Darkest Hours (A Cedric Diggory Fanfic)

Chapter 9: Questions

Kiara knocked on Remus's door for their Sunday dinner. He opened it and let her in, smiling, "Kiara, come in."

She took a deep breath, "Mmm, I smell pumpkin pie."

That's for dessert," he shook his finger at her before they sat down at his two persons table. For dinner, they had ham, rolls, veggies, and mashed potatoes. They help themselves as Remus asked her, "So how are things going? I heard some kids are giving you a hard time."

"Nothing I can't handle," Kiara shrugged it off, "did you read the article that Dad was spotted in Hogsmead? Is it true?"

Remus stopped cutting his ham and looked at her, "I don't know. Could be."

"So you haven't see him?" she concluded.

"No, I haven't," he answered shortly and she narrowed her eyes.

"Would you tell me if you did?" she rephrased.

He sighed heavily, before answering, "Not if he specifically asked me not to."

She sat back in her chair and stared at her godfather, "Why would he do that? Does he not want to see me?"

Remus leaned into the table and frowned, "Of course he wants to see you. You're his baby girl!"

"Okay...so why did Harry see Padfoot right before school started?" Kiara finally asked Remus. She had overheard Harry talking to Ron and Hermione the first night in the Common Room and she wasn't going to lie and say it didn't bother her that her father went to go see Harry and not her. She would've recognized Padfoot anywhere.

Remus frowned and looked disturbed. He wasn't aware of that information. Neither Sirius nor Harry mentioned it to him. He looked up and at Kiara, "Kiara, whether Sirius shows up to you as himself or Padfoot, you would have known it was him. Harry wouldn't know Padfoot from a stray dog."

"That's not the point..." Kiara forked her vegetables.

"Maybe he came to see you too, just didn't notice him," Remus tried to comfort her, understanding why she was upset about it. Harry did not know who Sirius was to him, but Kiara loved and lost her father. She was the apple of his eye and Remus knew how much it tore Sirius to not be able to reach out to his family, especially now.

Kiara just shrugged in response to him.

Remus leaned into the table and reached over to touch her arm, "There's a lot of unfinished business, Kiara. You know this," he stressed and Kiara wasn't sure how to reply. She was expected to understand that, but she couldn't help feel like a little girl who just wanted to see her father.

"I know," she whispered.

"The only reason he hasn't asked to see you yet is because we can't risk him getting caught. We're so close," Remus told her, "please, be a little more patient."

Kiara choked on her tears, "I'm trying. It's hard knowing he's so close."

"I know," Remus told her. His eyes glazed over too.

Kiara squeezed Remus's hand and said, "I never thanked you."

"For what?" he asked, surprised.

This time she let her tears slip, "For being so strong for Mum and me, and now Harry."

She knew Remus was helping Harry with his patronus. She also knew Harry was fond of him too. How could he not be? Remus was her father's best friend, even now after all those years. Remus was the closest thing Harry had left, as far as Harry knew.

Remus looked taken back before he smiled, "I had no choice. Your mum...I had to take care of you. You got me through it all, honestly. You have no idea how many times..." Remus trailed off and she knew what he was going to say, but he forced a smile, "I promised Sirius. There was a reason why James wasn't chosen to be your godfather. None of us knew who'd make it out alive."

"I can't even begin to think what you all went through," she said. Kiara didn't think either of them had an appetite anymore, "I'm sorry for making you remember it all.

"You're not making me remember anything," he shook his head, letting go of her hand, "I never forgot. You don't forget living through a war where you lost nearly all your family and friends. I hope you never have to go through the same thing, but..."

"But?" Kiara frowned.

"It's happening all over again," Remus closed his eyes. When he opened them, he pulled his hand from hers to wipe away her tears. Remus said, "Okay, enough talk about that. Eat up, we still have pie and don't you have patrol tonight?"

Kiara groaned, "Yes."

"How is everything else? Enjoying your classes?" he asked.

Kiara nodded, "Yes, except arithmancy."

Remus chuckled, "Definitely your father's daughter there. Although you are taking advanced."

"Has Harry told you anything about how he got selected?" Kiara asked him, wondering as they finished with dinner.

Remus sat back and sighed heavily, "No one knows who put his name in. I don't believe he could do something like this. He just wants to be an ordinary boy.