Cold Hearted || Remus Lupin *EDITING*

Chapter 6 | a paranoid student and startling news

"Sirius Black has been in Hogwarts." The hallway erupted into frantic and hurried chatter, a few students gasping and crying out and even some first years began to cry at the name of the infamous criminal. For Leo, he felt his blood run cold as if someone had opened him up, filling his whole body with ice, but not because he was scared of Sirius Black. He was scared of what Sirius' return meant for him.

It was common knowledge that Sirius Black had been one of Lord Voldemort's leading supporters at the end of the war when he betrayed the Potters, some even said that he was his second in command. If all this was true, then Leo worried whether Sirius had been in touch with his parents, because who else was known to have been a supporter of Voldemort? His father.

Leo knew that he was most likely being paranoid, but all he could think of was the last conversation he had had with his father before returning to Hogwarts.

"You should be more mindful of how you carry yourself this year, boy. I have eyes and ears everywhere and you have no idea what consequences lie ahead for you if you continue to shame our family name,"

Originally Leo had brushed this off as his father simply referring to the expectation for Leo to receive the dark mark once he graduated, the idea of that alone petrified him but he reassured himself with the fact that he still had the whole year until that happened and that he still had time to find a way out of it.

But what if Sirius Black had returned to Hogwarts for more than finishing the job and killing Harry Potter? What if Sirius Black was also here to carry out his fathers bidding and finally force Leo to follow in their footsteps? Sirius was family after all and who was to say that he was one of the good ones?

Leo was interrupted in asking himself all of these questions by Oliver, elbowing him sharply in the ribs, and hissing his name.

"Leo, they're doing a register," He looked up to see an extremely pale looking Professor Lupin looking through the crowd of students and repeated Leo's name, his voice cracking as he did so.

"Here sir," Leo muttered quickly before quickly pulling his lighter out of his pocket so he could fiddle with it, willing his heart to stop pounding in his chest and his breathing to go back to normal.

Unfortunately for him, Oliver seemed to notice the anxious state Leo had seemed to slip into as he felt a pair of hands cover his shaking hands.

"Leo? Leo, what's wrong?" Oliver asked him, his voice laced with worry as he gripped Leo's hands gently in his own.

"Nothing. I'm fine," Leo responded sharply, attempting to shrug off his friend, but it was clear Oliver didn't believe him at all as the other boy let out a huff of frustration.

"Bullshit Leo. You're shaking!" Oliver argued, his voice slightly louder, earning them a few glances from other students, but not enough to garner any real attention. However, Leo didn't want to take the risk of people thinking he was affected by this and the rumors that would circulate from that.

"I said I'm fine!" It came out louder than he wanted to, his voice involuntarily turning into an almost shout and immediately he could feel his cheeks burning as a significant number of students turned to look at them now as well as Remus, who eyed them with concern. However, as if the professor could sense that Leo was eager for the attention to be removed from himself he finally addressed the students gathered as a whole.

"All students should report to the great hall where sleeping arrangements are being made. I can reassure you that a thorough search is being conducted of the castle and the surrounding grounds. If Sirius Black is still at Hogwarts, he will be found."

There was nothing about Remus' tone that reassured any of the students, Leo noticing how his voice cracked once more at having to say Sirius' name. Yet, with no other option, the students seemed to accept his words and they all began shuffling in the direction of the hall. Leo brushed off Oliver, who was apologizing and trying to get him to explain what was wrong, and turned to follow the crowd.