Learn to love

Prove it

Harry walked into the living room of Sirius's home. His feet felt heavy dragging across the floor. His mind was still unable to process what had happened. He saw it. He knew what happened. He just didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe she was capable of doing what she did. Yet, she did. It was her wand that sent the spell. Because of her Dumbledore was gone.

"Harry?" Sirius walked into the room with his daughter in his arms. "What are you doing here?" Seeing the look of disheartening on his face, he placed Adhara in a small baby basket. Making sure the pacifier didn't fall out of her mouth, Sirius sat beside his godson. "What is it?"

"He's gone." Was all he could breathe out.

"Who?"

"Dumbledore."

That was not what he was expecting. "What are you talking about? Gone? Gone where?"

"He's dead."

"Harry, are you sure?" This would ruin every plan they had. Leave them out in the open as targets. The school would have lost its protector. "When?"

Wiping the tears again, he inhaled deeply. "Uh, a fe hours ago. He-he was killed."

"Voldemort?" Sirius growled.

"Athena." His voice was a mere whisper, almost too low for the wizard to catch.

But he did.

"What did you say?" Surly he was implying his wife killed Dumbledore. "You're mistaken."

"I was there Sirius. Dumbledore and I had just gotten back from a mission. Voldemort's mark was in the sky. Athena and Draco were the first to arrive. He ordered me to stay hidden." Tears were beginning to fall. "Draco was the one threatening him. He said they were ordered to do it. Then more death eaters came. Then Snape."

"Alright, alright." Pulling him into his arms, he tried soothing the boy. "Calm down."

"She killed him!" Harry yelled into his shoulder. "I trusted her and she killed him!"

"Harry, she doesn't know us." Sirius whispered into his hair. "She has no idea who we are or were to her. In her head, she's allied to them. Does what's ordered of her."

"Don't excuse her for this!" Pulling himself away, he stood up. "So her memories were erased! She still murdered Dumbledore!"

"I'm not!" Sirius snapped. "But I know she would not do this had she had any other choice."

"No." Shaking his head he took a few steps back. "She does not get to walk away free from this."

"What do you mean by that?" Seeing the boy sprint out of the house before he could get up, Sirius flopped back down on the couch. "What have you done Athena."

"I see you have been given the news." Remus walked into the room, Tonks trailing behind him.

Sirius scoffed. "Which one? The one Dumbledore is dead? Or the one that Athena killed him?"

"We are not sure about that one yet." Tonks spoke in a tone that made it clear she didn't believe it. "She was not the only one in that tower."

"Harry is sure of it." Sirius muttered. "What the bloody hell has been going on?"

Remus huffed. "After the spell on Athena? Quite a few. But right now, we need to focus on keeping Harry and the others out of harm's way. Lucky for us the school year is over. We need a plan for the kids."

"What of Athena?" Tonks cooed down at the gurgling child. "Yeah, that's your mom. Athena." The child gurgled what sounded like a giggle. "She reacts to the name."