"Brumous"
"Chapter Twenty-Five: Nott Manor"
Sirius groaned when the pounding started. He pressed his face into the pillow, except it wasn't the pillow he found but a warm shoulder. Quirking an eye open, the events of the previous night washed over him. Dinner and bowling with Tegan. The smell of her citrus shampoo filtering through his nostrils. The way her smooth skin moved against his. The way she tasted on his tongue. Sirius swallowed as he lifted his head off his pillow to see Tegan stirring next to him. She was naked. In his bed. Right, he was naked too. Tegan moaned, her body turning into his.
Sirius pressed a hand on the side of her neck, his thumb brushing her jaw for a few moments. The knocking continued and he couldn't help but wonder who the fuck would be at his house at such an unreasonable hour. Sirius rolled out of bed, grabbing his wand from his bedside table, before scouring the floor for some clothes. He grabbed his trousers and shoved his legs in as Tegan stirred in the bed. She sat up, her hand fumbling for her wand.
"I got it. Go back to bed," Sirius said before he made his way out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
He couldn't imagine who would be at his house before the sun was even up. Probably Andromeda if he had to guess. Or maybe Dora. Sirius only frowned as he opened his front door. He froze when he saw Rosamond Lestrange standing there with her head hidden under a cloak. Whoever he expected to be at the door, it certainly wasn't her. Sirius' brow furrowed as they stared at one another.
"Can I come in before I'm seen with you?" Rosamond snapped.
Sirius stepped aside, his hand carding through his hair. He watched as she entered. As soon as he shut the door, she took her hood off her head and turned around, looking completely feral.
"Where have you been?" Rosamond seethed.
Sirius blinked at her. "What's it matter to you? I don't think we've spoken since we were kids. I didn't even receive a Christmas card from you while in Azkaban. Would have really cheered the place up."
Rosamond' stop lip snarled. "Are you incapable of being serious?"
"There's a lot of different ways I can answer that question because of my name," Sirius replied.
Rosamond pressed her teeth together. "I've been looking for you for a month because I have Adriano Fidelius chained up in my basement and I want him gone."
Sirius stilled at the words. The blood rushed through his ears as everything seemed to slow around him. He blinked at her, his jaw squaring.
"Excuse me?" Sirius asked.
Rosamond looked up at the ceiling. "My husband is a Death Eater and close to my moronic brothers."
Sirius squinted at her. "Who the bloody hell did you marry?"
"Franklin Nott," she replied, her chin held high.
Sirius ground his teeth. "Willingly or forcibly? Because you know I killed Nott's fucking ponce of a brother, don't you? The Notts don't exactly like me a whole lot."
"Do any purebloods actually marry for love?" Rosamond asked, her eyebrow arching. "I have a son. He just turned sixteen in mid-August. The Dark Lord Marked him as well as several other sons of his Death Eaters last week. My son didn't want it. By the looks on their faces, half the boys didn't want it either. But they had no choice."
Sirius' eyes flickered down to her arm. Rosamond sighed as she pulled up her sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark shining brightly on her forearm. Sirius' stomach rolled at the sight of it, his eyes boring a hole into her arm.
"In a family of Death Eaters, you don't really have a choice," Rosamond whispered. "Your brother understood that too."
A lump formed in Sirius' throat as he gathered his thoughts. He didn't have time to think of his dead kid brother.
"Why should I even trust anything you have to say?" Sirius asked, his eyes snapping up and narrowing at her. "Just because we were friends when we were children doesn't make me trust you, especially not with that on your arm."
Sirius knew, in the back of his mind, the moment he saw her at the gala in July that she had probably taken the Mark. He had barely given her a second look, just another untrustworthy and an awful person who had been a part of his past. Someone who had let him down just like most people in his life prior to Hogwarts seemed to. Sirius told himself that he didn't care. Why should he? He had found an even better and caring family in the Potters – a family that loved him for who he was and didn't see him as some pawn.
"You abandoned me!" Rosamond seethed, her teeth baring. "It was supposed to be the two of us! Together!"
Sirius let out a bitter laugh, unable to himself. "No, you abandoned me the moment I was sorted into Gryffindor. You abandoned me just like everyone else. We haven't been friends for over twenty years."
"What was I supposed to do, Sirius?" Rosamond huffed, her hands throwing up into the air. "I was twelve years old! I was told not to speak with you anymore!"
Sirius shook his head. "You were supposed to be my friend no matter what house I was sorted into. That's how friendship works."
A creak sounded from upstairs, and Sirius knew Tegan was up and about. Sirius pretended like he didn't hear it. The last thing he needed was for Rosamond to be alerted there was someone else in the house. He needed information on Fidelius and to stop talking about the bloody past.
Rosamond swallowed, her steely composure crumbling. "We were supposed to be betrothed, you know. My father talked about how it fell apart a lot over the years, especially when people would talk about the latest trouble you had found yourself in. It was only after you were sorted into Gryffindor that it was off the table. Your parents wanted someone who could control you. That's why they chose Bellatrix."
Sirius sucked in a deep breath, his gaze boring into her. At eleven, he hadn't thought about marriage or any of that pureblood bullshit. He had ignored the conversations, determined to do what he wanted when he wanted. He hadn't even known Rosamond was on the list of potentials, nor did he even care.
"Maybe things would have been different if being sorted into Gryffindor wasn't such a big deal," Rosamond whispered.
Sirius ground his teeth together. "It wouldn't have. I still would have run away. I had no interest in taking the Mark."
"Neither did Regulus, but he did anyway because he couldn't escape like so many of us wanted to," Rosamond responded.
Sirius' composure crumbled at the mention of his little brother's plight. While he tried to act completely indifferent when it came to any Black family member, he couldn't deny a small spark of remorse where Regulus was concerned. He was just a kid, only a couple of years older than Harry was now when he had been murdered.
"He could have escaped if he wanted to, so could you," Sirius replied impatiently, because he had suffered to break free and live the life he wanted. He had refused to bow down to the pressures of his family and he had suffered greatly for it. "You took the easy way out."
Rosamond scoffed, her hand twitching as though she were going to slap him but thought better. "You think this is the easy way out? Being branded and forced to do things you don't want to do? You think I want any of this?"
"What? You think being tortured by my own fucking family was the easy way out?" Sirius snapped, a sneer working its way onto his face. "Don't pretend like you don't know what they did to me. I'm sure it was the talk of the Christmas Eve party that year. The unruly heir of house Black finally being put in his place. I saw people walk by my door, gawking at me like I was some fucking animal in a cage."
Rosamond's face softened. "I wasn't saying that, Siri," she whispered, the old childhood nickname making his skin crawl.
He fucking hated that name.
"Neither one of us had the easy way out," she continued, reaching out and grabbing his wrist. "I just wish I had been brave like you. I wish I would have gone to you for help when you got out. I wish I had never shunned you. But I suppose hindsight always makes you regret your choices in life."
Sirius' heart thudded in his chest, clawing and ripping to break free. He wanted to trust her, wanted to think that she was telling the truth about Fidelius being where the Order could get to him before he broke. Sirius needed the Fidelius Charm to work in order to protect his godson, his son. The hope expanded and twisted so painfully in his chest that Sirius felt like he could barely breathe at the opportunity in front of him.
"I want to trust you," Sirius whispered. "But I can't."
Rosamond took a step forward, her eyes searching his. "I know what happened to Regulus," she whispered in a dangerously low voice that Sirius wasn't even sure he heard properly. "I know what happened to Charlotte. Charlotte's alive and I haven't told a soul where she is. Please, Sirius, I want this to end."
Sirius bent down automatically, his face drawing closer to hers to hear her better. His entire body tingled, feeling as though it were going to crumble with just the right word combination.
"Rosie," the childhood nickname slid off his tongue like molasses.
"Regulus wanted out," Rosamond said, tears brimming her eyes. "He wanted out because Charlotte was pregnant. He was going to be a father and he didn't want your family to know. He didn't want his child raised the same way he was. I helped her and her unborn child escape after Regulus was killed."
A child. A nephew. Sirius felt like one good gust of wind could knock him to his knees, his mind flickering to the young boy around Harry's age who had Regulus' face. The boy who laughed with ease, who seemed happy, who didn't look like he had a care in the world.
"Where are they?" Sirius whispered.
"France," Rosamond replied, her hand squeezing his wrist. "Regulus bought a small holiday home in the South of France. He had been siphoning money to banks outside of Britain, slowly so no one would notice."
Sirius closed his eyes, a low breath escaping his lips. "Was the house in Agde?"
"I don't know," Rosamond admitted. "I only secured her a Portkey to Paris through a tout. "But I do know that neither the Dark Lord nor any of his Death Eaters killed Regulus. Walburga was devastated, convinced the Order killed him."
"The Order didn't kill Regulus," Sirius whispered, though he wasn't too positive about that.
Rosamond sighed, reaching into her robe pockets and withdrawing a couple of photographs. Sirius recognized Charlotte right away with her long brown hair and round face. She held out the photographs to him and Sirius accepted them with a tentative hand, afraid he might break them.
"Charlotte said Regulus went off on some sort of mission, but it wasn't for the Dark Lord. She wouldn't say what, but she said it would help destroy the Dark Lord," Rosamond explained. "When he didn't return that evening, she came to me the next day. I helped her right away, thinking if Regulus turned up I could tell him they disappeared to France. But Regulus never turned up. The Blacks declared him dead within a week. The Dark Lord said the Order had murdered him."
Sirius sniffed, his eyes dropping down to the photo on the top of the pile. Charlotte held a small baby in her arms, a tuft of black hair and piercing gray eyes.
"Charlotte wrote to me on and off over the years. I heard from her in June of 1980 when she had given birth to a baby boy. She named him Cepheus Regulus Black," Rosamond continued. "Nobody questioned their last name. Nobody connected them with your family. Nobody, apparently, thought to look for them in France. Walden Macnair was convinced the Order killed Charlotte and Regulus together."
Sirius flipped to the next picture. The kid was now around eleven or so with a Beauxbatons uniform on. He beamed at the camera, his body fidgeting with excitement. He looked like Regulus, except his hair didn't have the curls to it like Regulus' had. No, Cepheus' hair was pin straight and fell nicely on his head, much like Sirius'. His face was thinner, his eyebrows having a defining arch to them. His smile was all Charlotte's, bright and beaming.
He turned to look at the next picture to see Cepheus older, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, with the Golden Snitch clutched in his hand as his teammates hoisted him up on their shoulders. He looked happy with a wide boyish grin on his face, not a care in the bloody fucking world, like he didn't even know his dad had been a Death Eater.
"He was sorted into the house that's basically the equivalent of Hufflepuff," Rosamond explained. "Charlotte says he's a kind boy who knows nothing about the Dark Lord or Death Eaters or any of that. She told him Regulus died young from disease. She didn't want to sully the impression of the father he'd never meet."
It felt like glass had shattered in Sirius' chest, shards stabbing his heart. His nephew. It all seemed too surreal to even comprehend. Why hadn't Regulus come to him? Why hadn't Regulus told him?
"I've kept this secret for years," Rosamond explained, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Your grandmother Melania knows. She helped plan Charlotte's escape."
Sirius just stared hard at the photo of his nephew, soaking in the details. He was fairly positive it was the boy he had seen in France with his friends. Now, he couldn't help but wish he had stopped the boy and talked to him or that Charlotte had been with him. Surely, he would have recognized Charlotte. Except he didn't even think it possible that the kid had been a Black. Certainly, not Regulus' child.
"My grandmother knows?" Sirius whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from the photo.
"Yes, she had many regrets, Sirius," Rosamond whispered. "She had had enough. She went behind Arcturus' back, providing the money for the Portkey. Charlotte sends her pictures of Cepheus. It became easier once Arcturus died for them to be in contact. She even went to France a few times to see them, playing along with the story Charlotte crafted about what happened to Regulus."
"Can you contact Charlotte for me?" Sirius asked, the picture blurring from his tears. "I can send her money if she needs it. Tell her I can help her with whatever she needs."
"She doesn't need money, Sirius," Rosamond insisted.
Sirius tore his gaze away from the picture to look at Rosamond. "I want to meet him."
"She won't bring him back to England," Rosamond explained, her lips pursing.
Sirius couldn't leave England, not without Harry. Harry was priority number one. He would always be priority number one.
"I just want to write her," Sirius whispered. "Write him. Please, Rosamond. Help us connect."
Rosamond smiled tightly at him. "I've never written her, Sirius. You'd have to talk to your grandmother. She's the one who is in constant contact with her."
Sirius hated that. He didn't want to go to Melania Black and grovel at her feet for information. Melania was his only living grandparent, the oldest Black to still be alive. Sirius winced, trying to remember her maiden name. From what he could remember, she hadn't been completely awful but just awful enough.
"Do you trust me now?" Rosamond pressed.
Sirius stared at her, the skin beneath his eye twitching. "Tell me about Fidelius."
She did, diving into the story about how he was transferred to Nott Manor on the night of the gala – the same manor that used to belong to Cantankerus Nott before he died. Franklin and Rosamond had inherited the house. The dungeon was in the basement, the door still located in the kitchen. Although, while Rosamond refused to go down there, she knew Franklin had expanded the dungeon from the last time they had seen it. Sirius could remember the dungeon, how during a party he and Rosamond had snuck down there to see poached exotic magical creatures that Cantankerus had been selling illegally on the black market.
Fidelius hadn't cracked, though he was working around the clock trying to find a way to break his own spell that he had spent decades perfecting. Fidelius had been fed potions to keep him awake and his mind sharp, but he was also old and frail. His mind not as brilliant as it had once been. Rosamond was afraid he wouldn't make it much longer. Voldemort had started invading his mind, looking for some answer that was just out of his reach.
"There's a meeting tomorrow night," Rosamond continued. "Usually only one or two are left out of the meeting to guard Fidelius in case the Ministry raids or if he figures it out. They're never the same two people, but they're normally ones that the Dark Lord finds unfit for more important missions."
"Rosamond…" Sirius trailed off, his eyes searching hers.
"Nobody can know it was me, that I'm the informant," she pressed. "Promise you won't give me up or else I'll be dead within hours."
Sirius swallowed, his head nodding. "I won't tell anyone, but your house will be raised tomorrow night so don't be there."
Rosamond gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Sirius. I should go before it gets too bright out and someone sees me."
With that, Rosamond didn't even give him a second glance as she dashed past him. Sirius stared at where she had been, the photos pressed tightly between his fingertips. A creak sounded from the stairs and Sirius turned to see Tegan in nothing but one of his white t-shirts that flowed to her mid-thighs. She made her way down the stairs, closing the space between them. Sirius had no doubt she had listened to the entire conversation, or nearly the entire conversation.
She didn't say anything as she wrapped her arms around him, her cheek resting against his shoulder. After a beat, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his chest. The photographs pressed against her back as his other hand tangled in her hair. He tried to control his breathing as her fingers brushed along his bare skin. He allowed himself a moment to process everything before the two of them started plotting and planning how they were going to rescue Adriano Fidelius.
Ginny walked down the steps towards the common room with her friends and spotted Harry immediately. He stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs with Ron and Hermione, the three of them chatting in low tones. Harry rolled his eyes, his jaw clenching as he absentmindedly nodded his head.
Harry glanced over the top of Hermione's head and the corners of his lips curved when he saw her. Ginny gave him a small wave. She paused, waiting for him to finish talking so she didn't interrupt. Demelza stopped next to her, her head cocking to the side.
"I don't think he's even listening to Hermione any longer," Demelza whispered as she too gave Harry a little wave.
Niamh stepped up to the other side of Ginny. "You know, I never noticed this until yesterday, but your brother is quite fit."
Ginny winced as Gemma stuck her face between Ginny and Niamh. "You know what they say about tall blokes with big feet."
"Ugh, Gemma, please, that's my brother," Ginny groaned. "I do not want to be thinking about that."
Gemma shrugged. "Personally, I think Dean Thomas is the fittest of their year. He has broad shoulders."
"Ginny turned down Dean for Harry," Demelza replied.
Gemma hummed. "Mind if I take a stab at him then?"
"Go right ahead," Ginny replied, waving her hand. "I have no interest in Dean Thomas."
Niamh chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes glancing over at Ginny anxiously. "Mind if I take a stab at Ron?"
Ginny snapped her attention over to Niamh. It was unthinkable that one of her friends would even find Ron remotely attractive. He always talked with his mouth full and made stupid little jokes and was so co-dependent on Harry that it wasn't even funny.
"Never mind, it was silly," Niamh said in a rush. "He's just, well, he's really kind and funny."
Ginny shook her head. "He's really not but if you like him… go for it? But I think he likes Hermione so, just, keep that in mind."
"I thought she liked him back, but neither one makes a bloody move," Gemma added. "I mean, asking out your literal best friend is one of the easiest things to do. You already know them and know what they like."
"Shh, they're coming over!" Niamh squeaked.
Harry and Ron made their way over to the group of girls while Hermione left through the portrait hole. Ginny took a couple of steps forward to meet Harry. She rose on her tiptoes at the same time he bent down to kiss her chastely on the lips. While she enjoyed the greeting, Ginny knew at some point in the day they had to find a bit of alone time to properly kiss. She missed snogging him and cuddling him into the wee hours of the morning. There had to be a way she could sneak into his bed without Ron noticing.
"Hi, Ron," Niamh greeted. "Hello, Harry."
"Why'd Hermione leave?" Ginny asked, reaching out a hand for Harry's.
"Said she needed to talk to McGonagall about her schedule," Harry replied with a shrug. "Want to grab some breakfast?"
"Yes! I have such a busy day today," Ginny agreed as the group made their way towards the Great Hall. "How did you manage last year?"
Ginny and Harry took the lead, walking in front of the group with their hands tightly clasped between them. Ron stood sandwiched between Ginny's friends behind them, telling some stupid and cringeworthy joke about a Quidditch player and a Healer. Ginny tried to refrain from rolling her eyes and concentrate on what Harry was saying about his O.W.L. year being horrendous for more than one reason.
They all sat together at the Gryffindor table, Harry claiming the spot between Ginny and Ron while the rest of her friends sat across from them. Harry seemed much more at ease and chatty with Ron around, laughing more easily than he had been with him surrounded by a bunch of girls alone.
"I have Potions today," Ginny said as poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.
Harry chewed his food, looking thoughtful. "I do too. This afternoon."
Ginny nodded. "I have her right before lunch."
Harry glanced up at the professor table. Ginny did as well. Marlene was sitting between McGonagall and Hagrid, a nervous smile on her face as she listened to them talk. Ginny's eyes roamed down to where Snape sat at the other end of the table. He looked stiff and uncomfortable for reasons Ginny couldn't decipher. Even when Remus had taught at Hogwarts, he had reacted with disgust and annoyance. But with Marlene, he seemed downright awkward to be anywhere near her.
Ginny turned her attention back to Harry, leaning in close to him so she could drop her voice. "Are you nervous?"
Harry chewed on his bottom lip, his gaze snapping towards her. "It's a bit silly, right? I was never really nervous around Sirius."
Ginny placed her hand on his thigh underneath the table. "Sirius also remembered you and tried exceedingly hard to be a part of your life. He wrote you constantly, he dropped everything to come back to the country where he wasn't safe during the tournament, he fought for you to live with him time and time again. Marlene's just sort of there. But it's not her fault, you know that, don't you? She can't remember who she really is let alone you."
"We're written a few times, but it seems awkward," Harry admitted, his tone miserable. "Like neither one of us knows what to say. I certainly don't. I mean, Sirius kind of took the lead in our letters at first. He asked me a ton of questions and he told me all about what he was up to. He kind of set the tone, you know? The letters don't read as easily with Marlene as they did with Sirius."
Ginny sighed, her hand moving from his thigh to grip his fingers. "I know, Harry, but it will get there. You're both starting at the very beginning, trying to talk to someone you don't even see on a regular basis. Meanwhile, with Sirius, he remembers you as a baby. He remembers minding you, playing with you, and loving you. He remembers what little toddler Harry was like. You can see it on his face whenever he mentions you as a toddler, how his entire face lights up. He has those memories of you, while Marlene doesn't right now. But once she does get her memories back, I have no doubt it'll be as easy as it was with Sirius."
Harry nodded, though he still looked a bit uncertain. "No, you're right. I could try harder too. I mean, she's dealing with a lot right now trying to figure out who she even is. I could do better than I am."
"It'll be easier now that she's at Hogwarts where you are," Ginny assured him. "We can go have tea or something with her together. I can set the tone, if you want."
Harry gave her a lopsided smile, his glasses sliding down his nose just a tad. "You'd do that?"
Ginny leaned in close to him, giving his hand a squeeze. "That's what boyfriends and girlfriends do, Harry. They're there for one another, they help one another, and they support one another. You just have to get used to asking for help, because I can't always read your mind, you know."
Harry let out a low chuckle. "You're pretty good at reading my mind."
Ginny grinned, reaching up and gently pushing his glasses back where they belonged. He had changed so much over the summer, and it wasn't just his change in height or his tan from France either. There was something lighter about him, the way he smiled a bit easier and talked more openly about his thoughts and feelings. He had always been so tight-lipped in the past, burying all of his emotions and thoughts deep within him until he was screaming at anyone who even came near him. But he seemed more at ease with the people around him as he communicated better than he had ever done in the past. It smoothed some of the worry lines off his face to the point where he just looked younger and happier.
Ginny knew it was all thanks to Sirius. He had shown Harry how a parent was supposed to act, how it was all right to rely on the people who cared about him. Sirius had chiseled away at Harry's walls all summer until they crumbled into dust. Ginny had seen that it wasn't only Sirius who had helped break his walls.
Andromeda and Ted Tonks had showed Harry how a real aunt and uncle were supposed to treat their nephew. The areas where Sirius stumbled due to lack of experience in parenting or due to his own demons, Andromeda and Ted were there to hoist Harry up. Andromeda smothered him with affection while Ted made sure he always was included in mundane conversations. For the first time in his life, Harry was realizing how a normal family was to function. Sirius, Andromeda, and Ted were doing everything they could to bring a bit of normalcy into Harry's life.
Ginny cupped his cheek. "It'll be all right. I promise. You'll get there with Marlene."
Harry only smiled at her, mouthing the words thank you. With a quick peck on the cheek, Ginny turned back to her breakfast, knowing she'd be famished if she didn't actually eat before class. Harry laughed with Ron, lamenting that the two of them would suffer having Defense with Snape on their very first day of classes.
They had to part for class much too soon for Ginny's liking but they promised to meet up at lunch, which only had Ron rolling his eyes as he tugged Harry towards the stairs to make their way to Defense. Harry gave her a wave as Ron tugged him away and Ginny couldn't help but laugh.
The girls made their way outside to the Herbology classrooms. In the distance, Ginny caught sight of a familiar tall figure making his way across the grounds of the school. Sirius walked stone-faced and rigid with Tegan Robins next to him. Ginny gripped Demelza's arm and gestured towards the pair.
"What is your mum doing here with Sirius?" Ginny whispered.
Demelza shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest idea."
"Wait, Dem, that's your mum with Sirius Black?" Gemma asked, her jaw slacking open.
Niamh craned her neck to see. "Oh, are they dating?"
"What? No!" Demelza replied, her eyes watching the pair closely. "They're friends from Hogwarts but that's about it."
"What are they doing together?" Gemma asked. "Do you know him?"
"I've met him over the summer," Demelza replied cryptically, locking eyes with Ginny.
"When?" Niamh pressed.
Demelza waved them off as she started towards the duo. Ginny dashed off after her. She had left Harry literally no less than five minutes ago. There was no way something happened in that time for him to call Sirius and for Sirius to grab Mrs Robins.
"Mum!" Demelza shouted.
Mrs Robins stopped in her stride and Sirius paused next to her. Demelza and Ginny picked up their pace to make it to them quicker. Mrs Robins turned, her hand touching Sirius' arm.
"Go, I'll catch up," Mrs Robins told Sirius with a soft smile.
Sirius didn't need telling twice as he nodded and started to make his way towards the castle. Ginny huffed and ran after him, matching his fast stride to keep up with him.
"Is Harry all right?" Ginny asked him, her neck craning to look up at him.
"He's fine," Sirius replied. "This isn't about Harry."
"Did something happen?" Ginny pressed. "Is everyone all right? Did someone get hurt?"
Sirius stopped walking, a sigh escaping his lips. He laid his hands on Ginny's shoulders and bent down just slightly so he could see her better.
"Your parents are fine. Your brothers are fine," Sirius assured her. "Nobody we care about is hurt, all right?" He sighed before he dropped his voice to barely above a whisper and continued, "This is official Order business. Nothing more. Nothing less. I need to speak to Dumbledore on an urgent matter so I can't stand here and chat for long. Everything is fine. Don't worry."
Ginny nodded, the muscles in her shoulders relaxing. "Thanks, Sirius."
Sirius offered her a strained smile as he rose to his full height, his hands leaving her shoulders. "I know you'll tell Harry about this when you see him. Tell him everything is fine and I'll call him tonight."
Ginny agreed just as Mrs Robins joined them. With a nod in Ginny's direction, Sirius pressed a hand to the small of Mrs Robins back and the two of them made their way into the castle. Several students stopped to point at Sirius. Ginny couldn't help but worry that Harry would hear it from someone other than herself that Sirius had been at the castle. He would no doubt worry something had happened just as she did, since Sirius showing up on the first day of class was highly unexpected.
Demelza appeared at her side, her face spread into a thin line. "What did he tell you?"
"An urgent Order matter," Ginny whispered as she watched Sirius and Mrs Robins disappear into the castle.
Demelza frowned. "Same. Said everything was fine but I'm not too sure about that."
Ginny looped her arm around Demelza's, pulling her close to her side. She was going to suggest they make their way to class when she spotted Gawain Robards making his way across the grounds of Hogwarts with Kingsley Shacklebolt and another Auror that Ginny recognized as an Order member, but didn't know his name. Demelza saw them as well, knowing as much as she knew.
"What the fuck is going on?" Demelza whispered, her eyes following the three Aurors as they too disappeared into the castle.
"Something big," Ginny muttered out of the corner of her mouth, pulling Demelza towards the Herbology classroom. "I'm sure Harry will be able to find out. Sirius tells him a lot."
The girls turned to see Gemma and Niamh waiting for them. As they made their way back over to their friends, Ginny saw Remus and Tonks arrive at the castle as well. Ginny pressed her lips together, trying to put it all out of her mind as the four girls made their way to class.
Remus pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger as he listened to the wild debate that swirled around him on how and who would rescue Adriano Fidelius from Nott Manor. Dropping his hand in his lap, he glanced over at Sirius. His friend, of course, wanted to be a part of the rescue team while Gawain argued it should be strictly handled by the Auror Department.
Sirius had not given up his source on who had told him where Fidelius was except that it was a Death Eater who wished to defect. Remus ran through the gambit of names, trying to decide who in the world Sirius would trust from his past who was a Death Eater. The only person he could pathetically think of was Narcissa Malfoy. Sirius said that they had been close once upon a time. With Sirius' revelation that several Slytherin students had taken the Mark, Draco Malfoy most likely being on the list of known kids, it made sense that Narcissa didn't want that life for her child.
"This could be a trap," Gawain growled, his head shaking. "You won't even tell us who gave you this information."
"It's why I want to go," Sirius replied, his jaw tight. "I think this person is trustworthy, but I will talk to Dumbledore privately about the individual if that makes you feel better."
Remus raised his eyebrows, his gaze flickering between Sirius and Dumbledore. Quite frankly, Dumbledore looked surprised at the vote of confidence. Trust wasn't something that came easy to Sirius. The fact that he was willing to divulge a source to Dumbledore of all people spoke volumes.
Sirius cleared his throat. "I can help with where the dungeon is located as well. I've been there before."
"You've been in the Nott Manor dungeon?" Sutton asked, an incredulous laugh escaping his lips. "Merlin, Sirius, your past is certainly colorful.
Sirius smiled ruefully. "You have no fucking idea. Do you have a Pensieve? I think I can pull it."
Dumbledore rose without a word to pull his Pensieve from a cupboard. He sat it down on the desk and gestured for Sirius to proceed. Sirius stood up, drawing his wand from his trouser pocket. He pressed the tip to his forehead. The seconds passed, each one drawing out longer than the next as Sirius stood frozen there as though trying to grasp at the memory that was just out of reach. Finally, the memory pulled, long and shimmering like a Patronus. He flicked it into the basin and looked over, a frown working its way on his face.
"That's it," Sirius said in a rough voice, standing to his full height.
Everyone stood up, crowding around the desk. Remus pressed close to Sirius, their eyes meeting for a split second. Sirius looked like he wanted to say something, almost like an apology was on the tip of his tongue, but no words escaped. Remus turned his attention to the basin to see a very young Sirius next to an equally young girl with black hair that Remus didn't recognize.
A second later, they fell into the Pensieve.
Remus landed in an unfamiliar parlor, people dancing around the ballroom and others stumbling with their glasses of alcohol sloshing over the rims. It didn't take Remus more than a minute to spot Sirius looking young and carefree, a smile on his lips as he laughed while he danced with a pretty young girl. Sirius couldn't have been older than eleven and Remus could tell for a fact that he hadn't been to Hogwarts yet. No, he looked too happy and nobody cringed away from him yet.
"Sirius!" the young girl laughed, her hands tightening around his. "Let's go explore!"
A wide grin splattered across Sirius' face, his head nodding enthusiastically as the two hightailed out of the ballroom with their hands pressed tightly together.
Remus jolted, remembering he wasn't alone in the excursion in yet another memory of Sirius'. The group of Aurors surrounded Sirius as they followed the two young children and Dumbledore lingered behind them, his eye catching Remus'.
"Are you coming, Remus?" Dumbledore inquired.
With a curt nod, Remus fell into step with Dumbledore as the two trailed after the others. The music and the noise lessened the further they went into the manor, taking a flight of stairs down to where the kitchens were located. House-elves scuttered along as the young Sirius and small girl picked sweets and treats off the platters of hors d'oeuvres that floated by them towards the party.
"I'm so excited for you to come to Hogwarts in September," the girl said, a wide grin spreading across her face. "The giant squid swims by the big window in the common room every morning at six o'clock, so you have to get up early with me to see him! We can have breakfast together! Deverell Avery showed me how to access the kitchens too so we can still sneak off for snacks!"
Sirius laughed as he snagged a pumpkin pasty off one of the trays before he jumped up on the kitchen table, his legs swinging. "Deverell is a wanker, Rosamond."
The girl named Rosamond frowned as she leaned against the table next to his legs. "Must you? What if your mum overhears you talking like that? She always makes you sit in the corner when you talk like that. Then I'm bored and lonely without you."
Sirius shrugged, grinning. "Like she would ever be caught dead in the kitchen. She absolutely dreads going to our own kitchen. Avoids it whenever possible. Says it's a place for house-elves and Mudbloods, not dignified people," he said, the last two words spoken in a mocking tone.
Remus winced as he listened to Sirius speak. It had been a long time since he had heard Sirius use a slur so casually, back when they had first met and James had had to explain to him how inappropriate his language was. Sirius had been confused and mortified, mumbling out apologies, saying that he hadn't known.
Rosamond's bottom lip slipped between her teeth. "You are planning on being sorted into Slytherin, right?"
Sirius raised his head up, his eyes locking with hers. "Like I would even have a choice. There's never been a Black not sorted into Slytherin. Don't worry, Rosie, I won't leave you alone with all the boring and posh purebloods. You need some fun in your life."
"This is where the dungeon entrance is," Sirius said, walking away from the group of Aurors and making his way around the edge of the room. "It was in the kitchen. I just don't remember exactly where."
Rosamond rolled her eyes, her lips quirking. "I'm just saying… I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up in Ravenclaw or something."
"You're sure?" Gawain pressed, looking at the walls with interest.
Sirius' face pulled. "Merlin, no. I'd gauge my eyes out having to sit there and talk about class and magical theory or whatever else they do there. Cissa said they are a bore."
"Positive," Sirius confirmed. "Rosamond will show me in this memory."
Rosamond laughed. "Well, you like your little puzzles and I heard you arguing with Franklin Nott earlier. You do know he's a seventh year, don't you?"
Sirius snorted. "And as dumb as a bag of rocks."
Rosamond laughed. "You know what I like most about you, Sirius? You're confident. You don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "I know what I know," he replied before he sighed heavily. "I'm bored. I hate these stupid parties."
Rosamond grabbed his hand in hers, tugging him off the table. "Guess what Evelyn Nott showed me yesterday?"
Sirius slid off the table. "You were here yesterday?"
"This is it," Sirius announced, his back straightening.
Rosamond nodded as she led him across the room. "Mum was helping out with the decorations so I tagged along. Apparently, Evelyn and Franklin's dad has been selling magical creatures. I think illegally, but Evelyn didn't quite catch onto that."
Rosamond kept one hand firmly around Sirius' while her free hand ran along a shelf of spices. Pursing her lips to the side, she grabbed the tall green pepper mill and the shelf flew open. She turned back to Sirius, winking. The two started down the long and dark stairwell.
"Told you," Sirius said, smirking at Gawain.
Remus shook his head as he made his way down into the dungeon of the Nott house, sconces on the walls bursting to life down the narrow stairwell. Sirius' questionable upbringing did have its advantages for sure. As an adult, Remus understood why Sirius was always so tightlipped about his childhood and his time before Hogwarts. He also understood why everyone worried what side Sirius was actually on during the first war, making the mistake of not trusting Sirius himself. Sirius knew a lot of things about a lot of people on both sides of the war. It was always interesting to see what information he freely gave.
A large open room was at the bottom of the stairwell, the walls lined with cages of every single exotic magical creature one could even fathom. The Notts didn't just sell magical creatures, no they sold unusual and nearly extinct magical creatures as well.
Sutton let out a low whistle. "Fuck me. Look at this."
"This is where Fidelius is being held," Sirius said, turning to Gawain. "My informant said it's been expanded since I saw it last."
Dumbledore stepped away from Remus to stand next to Gawain. "What do you think, Gawain? Should this be purely an Auror mission or should we send in the Order now that you've seen the location? I, personally, believe that a joint effort may be the best course of action, but I value your expertise."
Gawain let out a long and drawn-out sigh, his head shaking. Remus caught sight of something horrifying and he walked past the group to see a naked young man sitting in a cage in the corner. His brows furrowed, his eyes peering at him. Scratches littered his chest and arms, his ankle having a bite mark on it. Around his neck was a collar.
"Rosamond, there's a person in here," Sirius said in a disgusted voice as he stepped up to the cage, his hands pulling at the lock.
"Stop! Sirius!" Rosamond shouted, grabbing him by the arm to stop him. "That's a werewolf!"
Sirius only stared at the man shivering in the corner of the cell. "He doesn't look like a werewolf! He looks like a man!"
"He's a monster," Rosamond insisted, tugging at his arm to pull him away from the cage.
Remus looked down at the young boy who would become his best friend. Sirius looked torn, his eyes soaking in the man in the cage.
Sirius pulled his arm away from Rosamond as he stepped back up to the cage, peering at the man once more. "Are you really a werewolf?"
The man looked unsure for a few moments before he nodded. "I don't want to hurt anyone. They said they could lock me up during the full moons so I didn't hurt anyone. Except they never let me go."
"Sirius, you can't be talking to it!" Rosamond hissed, her eyes widening
Remus' heart pounded in his chest as he looked around the room to see if there were any other humans in cages. He met Sirius' gaze across the room. His friend only frowned back, deep lines appearing in his forehead.
"Are there any other ways out of this bloody dungeon?" Nymphadora asked as she glanced around the room.
"Not that I know of," Sirius replied in a tense tone, his gaze not breaking with Remus'. "While it's been expanded, I can't imagine another escape route. Normally purebloods didn't want multiple escape routes for their prisoners."
Remus turned his attention back to the memory in front of him.
"Do you know how to open the cage?" Sirius asked the man.
"Sirius! What is wrong with you?" Rosamond hissed. "What are you doing?"
"They lied to him! He's not dangerous at all!" Sirius protested. "He doesn't want to hurt anyone! They're going to sell him like they're going to sell these animals!"
Dumbledore stepped up next to Remus, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Cantankerus Nott was a very sick and vile man," he said in a soft voice.
"It's none of our business, Sirius!" Rosamond protested as she grabbed his arm again. "We need to leave before we're spotted."
A growl emitted in the back of Sirius' throat as he continued to stare at the man in the cage. "Look, my Uncle Alphard will help. I'll tell him about you. He'll know what to do, all right?"
Rosamond pulled Sirius away from the cage. They stumbled towards the stairs but only got half way before they froze.
Remus noticed everything had stilled, like the memory had become frozen in time. His gaze landed on Gawain who had his wand drawn. The Aurors and Sirius walked around the room, making note of the lack of windows and where they could have potentially expanded the dungeon. Remus sighed, his gaze focusing on the horror-stricken look on a young eleven-year-old Sirius' face.
"I think it should be a joint effort," Dumbledore mused under his breath to Remus. "Sirius has always been an asset to the Order with his knowledge. I daresay, he's never been so willing to provide memories with blueprints before. It's a nice change."
Remus swallowed. "I think he will do anything he can in order to protect Harry, because that's all he cares about. Harry is the only person he cares about."
Dumbledore smiled as he looked down at Remus. "Yes, I believe you are right, Remus. Harry is very lucky to have Sirius in his corner. You know what will be asked of Harry, what he must do. I do not believe Harry will be able to accomplish it alone. Harry will need the both of you to guide him and watch over him."
Remus sucked in a breath, holding it for a few moments as his eyes flickered over to the older Sirius pointing at the stairs with Gawain and Tegan on either side of him. "I'm willing to do that. James would have done it for either one of our kids. Without question."
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "May I overstep, Remus?"
Remus snapped his attention to Dumbledore, his brows lowering on his face. "Yes, you may."
"I believe it is time for you to stop seeing Harry as an extension of James and start to see him for the wonderfully brave young man he is," Dumbledore advised, his tone soft. "I have seen the pained look on your face when he acts like James did. I had seen it on Sirius as well, until recently. Sirius' love for Harry has grown beyond his fondness for James. I think once your love for Harry grows past that as well, you will be able to open yourself up to him more than you have previously. I cannot help but notice you keep Harry at arm's length, almost as though you think he'll disappear in a blink of an eye like James did."
A lump hardened in Remus' chest. The loss of James had been unbearable, far more excruciating than Sirius' supposed betrayal or Peter's perceived death. James had a ginormous heart and the kindest soul, the best person that Remus had ever met in his life. The world seemed a lot less bright without James Potter in it.
"James knew he was going to die," Dumbledore continued, his words riddled with sorrow. "I think he knew the moment he heard the prophecy that he wasn't going to watch Harry grow up. He had been determined to save him, to save Lily. I remember visiting James after Fleamont and Euphemia died. Do you know what he said to me?"
Remus couldn't speak so he only shook his head in the negative.
"He lamented how Harry wouldn't know how wonderful his grandparents were, but he also made a comment about how Lily and Sirius would have less support in keeping Harry safe," Dumbledore explained, a frown etched deep into every facet of his face. "It was a shocking statement, to see him so resigned in the fact that his death was imminent. From what I have learned, James told Lily to take Harry and run. James didn't even have his wand on him. He faced death without even being able to defend himself, buying them even a few moments in hopes that it would be enough."
Remus felt his vision blurring, knowing that to be true from what Sirius had said about when he arrived at the house and from what Harry had told him about what he experienced with the Dementors.
"But Harry is not James. Harry does not have a child or a wife. He has not resigned himself to certain death," Dumbledore added. "Harry is far more prepared than James and Lily had ever been for the mere fact that he has you and Sirius by his side. The two of you are to Harry what Fleamont and Euphemia had been to all of you boys: knowledgeable, fiercely protective, and hardened by the cruelty of the world. Both of you have suffered immense loss during the first war and you both are determined not to make the same mistakes. Harry trusts you both, he looks up to you both. I have seen the way Harry looks to the both of you for guidance."
Remus let out a long breath. "It's Sirius who he looks to."
"Ah, I do not believe you give yourself enough credit, Remus," Dumbledore replied, a soft twinkle sparking to life. "You were his favorite professor, a man he had come to respect and admire without knowing how deep of a connection you held to his parents. While Harry has clung to Sirius for the connection he brings to James and Lily, for Sirius holding the mere moniker of godfather, Harry has not had that same type of relationship with Marlene for several reasons. It is my belief that Harry would seek your counsel before he would Marlene's."
"That's going to change once he gets to know her this school year," Remus replied.
"Perhaps," Dumbledore conceded. "But Harry is very attuned to Sirius' opinions and moods. He yearns for Sirius' approval. And you are the person that Sirius trusts most when it comes to Harry. You are the person that Sirius named in his will to take custody of Harry if anything should happen to him. Not Andromeda and Ted, not Marlene, not the Weasleys. You were. I think it would do you and Harry some good if you could let go of the guilt of what happened all those years ago, for you to put James out of your mind. It is prudent for your own mental health to live in the present and not in the past."
Remus knew he was right. He had forced himself to suffer by not allowing himself to get close to Harry for a multitude of reasons. The list had only grown longer and longer the more Remus agonized over it. What Dumbledore said was what Sirius had been telling him for over two years now. It was high time Remus let go of all his of guilt and form the relationship he wanted with Harry.
As soon as Harry had sat down to lunch, Ginny and Demelza had told him how they had seen Sirius, Remus, Mrs Robins, and a handful of Aurors arrive at the castle. Luckily, he had the Marauder's Map on him because he drew it from his satchel and activated it to see them all still in the headmaster's office. They had been there all morning. Harry looked up at the professors' table to see McGonagall and Snape talking in the corner of the room, their heads pressed together and their hands covering their mouths.
Lunch seemed a lot less enjoyable when he didn't know what was going on. He hated being in the dark, hated that Sirius was involved. Harry had been trying his hardest to rely on Sirius and others to decide what the best course of action was with the war and with him. He really had been. But he had never relied on anyone before, let alone adults. He had just taken care of things himself for as long as he could remember.
A storm thundered in his chest. While it was nice to have Sirius to rely on to make all the decisions and to protect them both, Harry also wanted to be heavily involved or else the anxiety clawed at his skin. Harry knew it was impractical for him to go on Order missions with Sirius, he really did, but he couldn't help but worry about Sirius going out without him. It sounded so silly in his head, but Harry's heart ached with fear at the thought of losing Sirius while he sat at school like a good little kid.
Kid.
That's all he was seen as. Even Sirius called him kid, albeit in an affectionate tone. Sirius wasn't interested in his past victories or his past battles. No, Sirius just wanted Harry to be a kid. Wasn't that what France had been about? Lazing about on a beach and playing cards and exploring while a war raged on without them at home? Sure, they had taken precautions in France, but he had more freedoms in Agde than he had in London or in Ottery St. Catchpole.
Harry tried to put it out of his mind as he trudged down to the dungeons with Ron and Hermione for Potions, hoping Sirius would still be in the castle when he was done so he could wait outside the headmaster's office for his godfather. When they entered the classroom, Harry spotted Marlene standing in the front of the room and writing out a list on the board. Ron gestured towards one of the tables in the back and they sat their stuff down. Harry pulled out his Advanced Potion-Making book, some parchment, and a quill. Hermione leaned over Ron, her brow furrowed.
"What happened to your book?" Hermione asked, gesturing to the clearly used book that Tonks had given him.
Harry shrugged. "It was Tonks'."
"Why did Tonks give you her Potions book?" Ron questioned as he peered at it.
Harry opened it up to see Dora Tonks written in her large and curly writing in bright pink ink. "Andy told her I was abysmal at Potions and thought maybe this would help. A lot of the notes are tips and hints from Andy and Ted."
Hermione's brow furrowed. "Who are Andy and Ted?"
Harry kept forgetting that Hermione hadn't met all the people that he had over the summer.
"Tonks' mum and dad," Ron supplied. "Andy is Sirius' cousin."
A tall black blur with blond hair passed by the table, and Harry looked up to see Draco Malfoy making his way towards the front of the class with Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. The three of them sat down without incident which was new. Harry did notice Malfoy staring at Marlene's backside, an odd expression crossing his face.
"Did you meet a lot of Sirius' family over the summer then?" Hermione asked in a hushed whisper.
Ron pulled a face. "Trust me, I think Andy, Ted, and Tonks are the only ones worth knowing. Sirius said he saw his aunt over the summer at that gala," he continued as he pulled out his supplies from his satchel and gestured his chin towards the group of Slytherin boys. "Malfoy's grandmother. Ugh, could you imagine saying your aunt is Malfoy's grandmother?"
"Sirius said she was awful," Harry murmured out of the corner of his mouth as a couple of Ravenclaws passed their table.
"Oi, you know what I just thought of?" Ron asked, wincing. "Since Sirius adopted you, that makes Malfoy your cousin," he explained, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Rotten luck, mate."
"Lucky for me, Sirius seems to loathe Malfoy's dad as much as I hate Malfoy," Harry mumbled. "I'll ask Sirius to blast them off the family tree."
Ron roared with laughter but Hermione only shook her head as she fell back in her chair. Harry flipped through his Potions book until it was on the first page of chapter one. Leaning back in his chair, he chewed on the inside of his cheek as Marlene turned and glanced around the room. Her eyes lingered on Harry a fraction longer than anyone else.
"Oi, maybe we'll receive special treatment this year in Potions," Ron muttered out of the corner of his mouth.
Hermione shot them a look. "Why would we get special treatment?"
Ron shot Harry a look. "Did you not write her at all over the summer and tell her anything?"
Harry looked guiltily at Hermione. "Sorry, it was just… an eventful summer. Marle… err, Professor McKinnon is my godmother."
Hermione's eyebrows raised. "Harry! How can you not tell me anything major that happened this summer? Where has she been? Why didn't you live with her?"
Harry opened his mouth to respond but he didn't even know where to start. At first, it just seemed easier to wait until she arrived at Grimmauld with them. Then, after Voldemort's little possession visit, Harry didn't feel like talking much. Wandless, anxious, and just plain scared, he had just stayed in his little bubble at the Burrow with Sirius and the Weasleys.
"Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Professor McKinnon and I'm your new Potions professor," she greeted the class, drawing everyone's attention to the front of the room. "I am a former Gryffindor and a former Seeker for the house team. For the past fifteen years, I was a Healer at a small hospital where I did a little bit of everything. Healing, Potions, emergency, long-term care, you name it and I did it because at such a small hospital you didn't really have a specialty. We just went where we were needed."
Marlene rounded her desk as she spoke. She made sure to look at everyone in the room, a warm yet nervous smile crossing her features.
"This is my first time teaching, so we're all going to learn something new this year," Marlene continued as she gestured behind her towards the board. "I've written out a general outline on the board of what we will cover this year. I've looked at Professor Snape's syllabus and I worked with another Potioneer who helped to craft this syllabus. My main goal is to prepare you for not only your N.E.W.T.s next year, but to ensure that you all have the knowledge you need for the career you want one day. So, really, I want to get to know all of you and I've asked your heads of houses to tell me how your career talks went last year. I've noticed we have a few who want to be Aurors, a few who want to go into Healing, some want to go into law, others who want to be curse-breakers, and the list goes on and on. I really want to emphasize what potions are helpful for what careers and have some more specialized lessons to help prepare you all for the future. Any questions for me?"
Hermione's hand shot up in the air. Marlene smiled at her, gesturing her hand in her direction.
"It would be great if the first couple of classes if you said your name before you speak so I can get to know you all," Marlene added. "What's your question, the Gryffindor in the back."
"Hermione Granger," she introduced herself, lowering her hand. "I noticed the syllabus that you provided on the board isn't following the chapters in the book. It seems like you broke it up differently than we're used to doing. Does that mean we'll be jumping around a lot?"
"Uh, yes, I will be jumping around a lot," Marlene confirmed. "So, it'll be hard to read ahead. I like a bit of freedom in case we need an extra day on a certain lesson or perhaps we need refreshers of previous years. I'm going to keep you on your toes."
Hermione looked a tad distressed as she pulled out her quill and quickly wrote down what was on the board. Nobody else seemed to have any questions which only caused Marlene to let out a long sigh.
"You know, I expected a lot more questions," Marlene said with a nervous smile. "When I was a sixth year, we, uh, well, I went to school with Professor Snape so he was obviously not my professor or else that'd be a tad awkward. But, I… I vaguely remember we were asked to make the Draught of Living Death and whoever had the best potion won some Felix Felicis, or liquid luck. I did not win, uh, but…" she trailed off, her eyes staring hard at Harry. "I, I think a boy…" Marlene cleared her throat, her eyes narrowing at Harry. "A boy in Gryffindor won. And he, well, I'm not quite sure what he did with it. I can't remember. But he, uh, I remember he wanted to win it very badly to the point where one of his friends botched his own potion trying something that didn't work. He tweaked one of the ingredients to see what would happen or something. Anyway, there was an explosion and… I'm sorry." Marlene let out a breath and a small chuckle, standing up a bit straighter. "First day jitters. I'm rambling. But, anyway, that's one potion we will work on later in the year. Maybe if you lot are a great class, I'll see if we can't have a little competition with some Felix Felicis like in the old days."
Marlene finally looked away from Harry, her gaze moving around the room at the other students. Harry leaned forward, propping his elbows up on the desk. Somehow, Marlene remembered something about James. Harry was sure it was his father who had won Felix Felicis by the way Marlene stared at him so intently as she spoke and stumbled over her words. He made a mental note to ask Sirius about it on the mirror later, after he found out why he had met with Dumbledore and the Aurors all day.
"Now, I know you're not five and you all know each other, but I don't know any of you," Marlene said with a grimace. "Can we go around the room and introduce ourselves, say why you're taking Advanced Potion-Making, and tell me something fun about yourself? Maybe you'll learn something new about a classmate. Make the fun fact unique, something not a lot of people know."
Nobody seemed to want to start. Even though Harry knew he should volunteer to go first, he couldn't think of a unique fun fact about himself. Ron nudged him in the side and Harry made a noise in the back of his throat as he raised his hand. Marlene beamed at him.
"Yes, the Gryffindor in the back," Marlene called.
Harry stood up, not knowing if he should sit or stand. "Err, hi, I'm Harry Potter. I'm taking Potions because I want to become an Auror. And my fun fact is… uh, is that I… really… like treacle tart?" he said, his brows furrowing at the last few words. "Yeah."
Harry sat down and nudged Ron to go next. Ron jumped up from his chair and stretched his arms out wide.
"Hello, I'm Ron Weasley. I too want to become an Auror with my best mate, Harry. My fun fact is that I love the Chudley Canons. They are, by far, the best Quidditch team. They're sneakily waiting to blow everyone off the pitch one year with their sheer genius. They know how to play the ruddy long game!"
Around and around they went. Only Malfoy seemed to give Marlene any problems, refusing to say anything other than his name before he crossed his arms over his chest and challenged her to make him say anything else. Which she didn't.
After giving them their reading assignments, she let them go early but said not to get used to it. Harry shoved his things into his bag as people rushed past them as though they thought Marlene would change her mind and keep them the full time.
"Mr Potter! Can I see you after class?" Marlene called.
Harry told Ron and Hermione to go ahead without him. Once everyone had filed out of the room, Harry made his way to the front of the class where Marlene stood pressed against her desk.
"Tell me, how terrible was it, Harry?" she asked, her face tugging down.
"Definitely easier than Snape would have made it," Harry replied. "Honestly, it was fine though. A nice change of pace from this morning."
"I thought people would ask more questions or something," Marlene replied, her eyes closing shut for a few moments. "I always hated the first day of class because professors always seemed to throw so much at you. I just, I don't know, I was nervous and wanted to get to know everyone, I guess. It was silly."
"It was fine, honestly," Harry promised. "The person who won Felix Felicis … were you talking about my dad?"
Marlene squinted at him. "I think so? I don't know. It just kind of came all at once. Being here and seeing you and…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "Sirius would know. You could ask him."
Harry nodded. "I was going to. He gave me this mirror where we could talk to one another every night on it. He's a bit, well, I think he gets anxious about things."
Marlene smiled tightly. "I heard you two went to France after what happened at the gala. How was it?"
Harry gripped the strap to his satchel. "It was good. Sirius has a family holiday home there that we stayed at."
"Yeah, Andy told me about it," Marlene confirmed. "I've been talking to Andy a lot. She's been so helpful and amazing. She dotes on you all the time."
Harry's chest expanded. "I like Andy a lot."
"Look, I know I haven't been the best… godmother to you," Marlene started, her face pulling. "I just… I thought it would be easier to have my memories back first. They're so slow coming that it's agonizing. And, I guess, I also didn't want to step on Sirius' toes when it came to you. I know how close you two are. But I'm here if you wanted someone else to talk to. I'm not here to, to take you away from Sirius or anything. I just want to get to know you and maybe one day I can remember you in the same way Sirius can remember you. I keep getting told how close Lily and I were. I've stared at her picture so long and so hard, just willing myself to remember her. It's all distorted and, and… anyway, I'm here, all right?"
"I know," Harry whispered.
"Maybe we can have a weekly tea date or something," Marlene suggested. "Unless that's weird because I'm a professor."
"No, it's not," Harry said in a rush. "Remus, when he was a professor here, always invited me to his office for tea and a chat."
"Remus used to teach here?" Marlene asked.
Harry nodded. "In my third year. He was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Snape hated it."
"Yes, I get the impression that Snape doesn't like me either," Marlene replied, her lips pursing. "He refuses to even look at me. I've seen the looks that Snape and Sirius give each other in Order meetings so I can tell there is animosity between them as well."
Harry nodded. "Sirius and my dad hated Snape, and he hated them back. I guess my mum used to be friends with him for a little while. I heard you weren't a fan of that friendship."
Marlene cocked her head to the side. "Hmm, that's interesting."
Harry chewed on the inside of his chest. "Uh, Marlene, can I ask you a question?"
Marlene practically beamed with eagerness. "Of course, anything!"
"Err, do you know why Sirius, Remus, and a bunch of Aurors are meeting with Dumbledore right now?"
"Uh… I, well, they're here? In the castle?" Marlene asked, her mouth gaping.
Harry's hope for news deflated. "Yeah, Ginny saw them arrive and, well, I… wait, am I speaking to you as a professor right now or as a… as a godmother?"
Marlene let out a breath. "Uh, let's go godmother."
"Okay, so, what I tell my godmother isn't something my professor would hold against me, right?" Harry asked, wincing.
Marlene blinked. "I'm very confused but yeah. Sure. Godmother Marlene is very different than professor Marlene. The two will know completely different things."
The corners of Harry's lips twitched as he pulled out the Marauder's Map, hoping he wasn't making a major mistake. He muttered the password, hoping Marlene wouldn't hear just in case she confiscated it. But she only leaned in when the ink appeared, her brow furrowing.
"Err, my dad, Sirius, and Remus made it while in school," Harry explained as he folded the map until the headmaster's office was clearly visible. "It shows where everyone is at in the castle."
Marlene pointed at Sirius' name which was squished between Remus and Mrs Robin's name. "This is… very clever. Are we on here?"
Harry unfolded and refolded the map for her until two dots labeled Harry Potter and Marlene McKinnon appeared side by side in the Potions classroom. Marlene let out a long sigh that almost sounded as though she were relieved.
"So not everyone is mental. I am Marlene," she said in a faraway voice, seemingly forgetting that Harry was standing right next to her, before she screwed her eyes shut. "I'm sorry. I just thought I'd remember a lot more by now."
Harry shifted awkwardly. If he could concentrate hard enough, he could picture Ginny in his mind giving him an exasperated look and mouthing at him to hug her. Except he didn't think they were anywhere near close enough for that kind of physical contact.
"I'm sure you'll remember everything soon," Harry said instead, looking down at her. "I mean, you remembered that stuff about the Felix Felicis and my dad winning it."
Marlene let out a huff. "Yeah, well, not everything. It was all distorted." She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Harry. I shouldn't be… discussing this with you."
Harry's face pulled, feeling suddenly awkward to be next to her. "Why?"
"Because you're sixteen and adults aren't supposed to burden kids with their problems," Marlene replied, her hand waving. "I'm pretty sure that's a rule in the parenting handbook or something."
Harry shrugged. "It's nice to know what's going on in someone's head. Sirius doesn't exactly talk about stuff that bothers him."
Marlene's lips quirked. "I think he read the handbook closer than I did."
Harry let out a small chuckle, the tension leaving his shoulders. "I wish he wouldn't have. It'd be nice to know what he's thinking sometimes. So, I mean, I don't mind. If you want to talk about the memory stuff, that is. I don't know how exactly to help, but…" Harry trailed off, chewing on his bottom lip. "But I do want you to get your memory back."
Marlene looked at him, a bit misty-eyed, as her lips curved. "Me too. So badly."
Harry glanced down at the map, adjusting it to see if Sirius was still in Dumbledore's office. He had moved across the room, but he was still there.
"Sirius is living in Hogsmeade now," Harry said, staring at his godfather's name and leaving the air open to suggestion.
Marlene nodded. "I know. It was a discussion that was had in a few Order meetings. What protections to put on it, the ordinances against the Fidelius, if you'd be able to stay there… the list was endless. But Sirius didn't care about anyone's opinion beyond suggestions on how to secure it. He had made up his mind."
Voices wafted in from the corridor as a few young Ravenclaws entered the room. Harry cleared the map, shoving it into his back pocket.
"I should go, but I guess I just wanted to say, well, Sirius is really nice," Harry fumbled, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. "And I know things are all distorted with him, but he would see you. He may not talk a lot about… stuff, but he's a good listener. He's always listened to me."
Marlene smiled. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Harry."
Harry nodded his goodbye before he made his way out of the Potions classroom, his gaze focused on his feet as he tried to block out the whispers that had erupted around him about being the Chosen One, about the prophecy, about Voldemort and Harry dueling in the graveyard, about how he wasn't a liar like they had all thought. Harry didn't care what they thought, or at least that's what he told himself.
He made his way towards the headmaster's office so he could sit outside and wait for Sirius even though he knew his godfather probably wouldn't tell him anything anyway.
I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Don't forget to drop a review. They motivate me to keep writing and stay ahead in my writing. But please, a friendly reminder, I don't need to hear about everything you hate about the story. I get no everyone is going to like every single aspect of the story. That's all right. There's a lot going on. So, let's just stay positive, yeah? I do this for free and for fun. Enjoy, don't enjoy, whatever. Let's just be nice and positive though.
Special thanks to Bell for being a rockstar. She's the best!