The Squib and the Werewolf (book 2)

21. Moving On

Raya and Jamie stayed in the office, crying in each others arms, until they heard people shouting in the hospital wing.
One of the voices belonged to Fudge, and the other person was Snape.
"He must have disapparated" said Fudge.
"YOU CAN'T APPARATE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH POTTER. OUT WITH IT BOY, WHAT DID YOU DO?" Questioned Snape.
Even though Raya knew it was risky, she pushed open the door and stepped into the main room to see what was going on.

Snape was looming over Harry, and he looked angrier than she had ever seen him.
"Professor Snape, control yourself" instructed Madam Pomfrey.
"Potter helped Black escape, I know he did!" howled Snape.
"Be reasonable Snape, the door was locked when we arrived, so Harry couldn't have left the hospital wing" reminded Fudge.
"What is going on?" Demanded Raya.
"Your husband has escaped, that's what's happened!" Shouted Snape.

"Sirius has escaped?" Gasped Raya, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
"Yes. Now may I ask, what are you doing here?" Asked Fudge suspiciously.
"Dumbledore messaged me, and informed me that Sirius had been caught. I then came here to tell my son what was going to happen to his father, because I didn't want him to hear about it from someone else" answered Raya, as she gestured to Jamie, who was hovering behind her.
"And have you been in that office the whole time?" Demanded Fudge.
"Yes, ask Madam Pomfrey if you don't believe me. Besides, how could I have got Sirius out of the castle without a wand?".

Snape screamed in anger before storming out of the room, passing Dumbledore on the way.
"Fellow seems quite unbalanced. I'd watch out for him, if I were you" Fudge warned Dumbledore.
"Oh, he's not unbalanced, he's just suffered a severe disappointment" sighed Dumbledore.
"He's not the only one. The Daily Prophet is going to have a field day when they find out about this. All I need now, is for the story about the Hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughing stock... I'd better go and notify the Ministry" groaned Fudge.
"And the Dementors? They'll be removed from the school I trust?"
"Oh yes, they'll have to go. I never dreamed they would attempt the Kiss on an innocent boy... Maybe we should think about dragons at the school entrance instead"
"Hagrid would like that".

Fudge turned to go, but Raya stopped him.
"Just a minute, Minister".
"What is it Mrs Black?" Asked Fudge.
"Well, since it is pretty clear that I haven't been hiding Sirius in my house, and that I had nothing to do with his escape just now, does that mean you will stop barging into my home every few months?" Questioned Raya.
"I don't know about that. You are still a person of interest afterall" reminded Fudge.
"For Merlin's sake! You've ransacked my entire house on multiple occassions and found no evidence to suggest that Sirius has been hiding there. I want to move on and put the past behind me, but it's impossible to do that when you keep barging into my house and interfering with my life. So please, just let me and my family be".

"I can vouch for Mrs Black and assure you that she has nothing to do with Sirius anymore" announced Dumbledore.
Raya glared at him, letting him know that she didn't need his help.
"If you don't agree to leave me alone, I will go to the papers, and tell them about how you have harassed me and my family, ever since Sirius escaped. I will also tell them about all your failings here tonight, including the fact that a Hippogriff managed to escape, right under your nose" threatened Raya.
"Fine, fine. Have it your way. I won't search your home again, unless there is substantial evidence that Sirius is in the Potter Manor" sighed Fudge.
"Thank you".

Once Fudge had left, Ron had woken up, and Madam Pomfrey was in her office, Harry and Hermione explained everything that had happened.
They revealed that they had saved Sirius and Buckbeak the Hippogriff using a time turner, after Dumbledore had instructed them to do so.
"Oh you brilliant, brilliant boy, thank you so much" said Raya, as she hugged Harry tight.
"You're welcome. After learning that he was innocent, I couldn't let anything happen to my godfather" admitted Harry.

Raya smiled and turned to look at Jamie, "I know I'm not one to keep secrets. But this is something we can't tell anyone".
"Don't worry mum, I'm not an idiot. But can we tell uncle Remus?" asked Jamie.
"Once he's back in his human form, then yes. But no one else can know the truth" answered Raya.
"I won't say a word".
Harry smiled and then tried to cover a yawn with the back of his hand.
"That's it, I think it's time you went to bed, it is nearly 2am afterall" instructed Raya.
"But I want to spend time with you" replied Harry.
"I'm not going anywhere. I need to check on my brother in the morning. So, I will sticking around tonight" admitted Raya.

"I can offer Raya one of the spare staff bedrooms for the night" suggested Dumbledore.
"I'd rather sleep the night in here, if you don't mind" replied Raya coldly.
"That's fine with me. However, I would like a quick word with you in my office first" informed Dumbledore.
Raya looked over her shoulder at Sophia, who was still fast asleep in the makeshift cot.
"Madam Pomfrey will look after her while you are with me" continued Dumbledore.
"Fine, I will talk to you" sighed Raya.

After hugging Harry goodnight, and walking Jamie back to Ravenclaw tower, Raya followed Dumbledore to his office.
She wasn't that happy to be back in it, and so far away from those she loved.
But she knew there was a lot her and Dumbledore needed to talk about.
She expected that he wanted her forgiveness for what had happened during the first wizarding war. But she wasn't so sure that she wanted to forgive him.

"Now, I'm sure there are many things that you want to say to me, Raya. But I would like to start the conversation, if that is alright?" Asked Dumbledore.
Raya folded her arms, "Go ahead then. Make your excuses. Try and apologise for everything you put my family through. Because no matter how many times you say sorry, it will not be enough".
"You are angry with me, I understand that. I made a statement in court, with the information I had at the time, which turned out to be wrong, and you suffered because of it. I was wrong, and I admit it. But since you didn't tell me that you changed the secret keeper, I cannot be blamed for telling the Ministry that I believed Sirius was the secret keeper".

"Here we go. Of course it has to be someone elses fault. The great Albus Dumbledore can never be in the wrong" mocked Raya.
"You are the one who kept the secret from me" reminded Dumbledore.
"That's because we didn't trust you. Our friends were dying, and you were doing nothing about it. Besides, the whole point of a secret, is that no one knows about it, which is why we didn't tell you. And maybe if you had spoken to me first, about what had happened, we wouldn't be in this mess" snapped Raya.

"I cannot change my past actions, I can only apologise for them. But now that I know the truth, I want to help you and your family" admitted Dumbledore.
"I don't want, or need your help" spat Raya.
"I am the one who told the children how to free Sirius" replied Dumbledore.
"Oh, so now you want to take credit for their actions, what a suprise. That's how you always do things. You get disposable people like me and those I care about, to risk their lives, while taking all the credit... And if you think that helping Sirius escape, makes up for making him a criminal in the first place, then you are wrong".

"I am sorry for what I did. Please tell me how I can make it up to you?" Asked Dumbledore.
"There is nothing you can do or say to make me like or trust you again" answered Raya.
"They do say that trust has to be earned. So, maybe I need to show you that I am on your side, so that you will trust me again" suggested Dumbledore.
"I don't want you near me or my family... However, I am not stupid. I know you are teaching my son and godson, so I will have to see you in the future. And since you did slightly assist in saving Sirius tonight, I won't be as hostile towards you in the future. But I will never like you, and I will never ever forgive you".