STARMAN; 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 [1]

Chapter 13.

"Sorry about the bite..." Black's voice melted into the background of Andromeda's mind. She could have been mistaken for a wall at her lack of emotional response. She carried Ron's left side, while Sirius was carrying his right. Harry was right behind them.

She has made no remark since Harry had pointed a wand in her face. She hadn't spoken since her father had wiped his ledger clean. And she hadn't even glanced at Remus the whole way through the tunnel.

"You almost tore my leg off?!" Ron complained, making Sirius shrug.

"I was going for the rat, you had quite the grip on it. Normally I have a very, sweet disposition as a dog. I'm fact, more than once, James suggested I make the change permanent." Sirius chuckled, making Andromeda come to a halt.

"You were Dog. On the lake. On the castle." She said with a raspy voice. Not bearing to look at him.

"Yes. It was me."
They kept moving after that.

They stepped out into the moonlight, placing Ron on a rock. Andromeda started walking towards the edge of the cliff. She tiredly sat, playing with the blades of the grass. Sirius hesitated. He sat beside her.

"I..I know you probably don't want to talk to me right now-"

She shook her head.
"Quite the opposite actually. I want to talk to you, about anything and everything." She muttered, playing with a strand of hair, absemindedly painting it red from the blood that had yet to dry on her hand.

Sirius nodded profusely, his eyes pricking with tears.
"There's so much to say, I don't even know where to begin." He chuckled, wiping his eyes. She stared into his eyes. He stared back. Particularly into the wound, that always seemed to tear his own freshly off the bone.

His hand reached out. She didn't flinch, she invited his touch. His thumb went softly across the lid of her eye.

"Did your...um, dad? Remus-"

"Remus never referred to himself as dad. He is an always will be an uncle to me, who stepped up and was there for me. But he lets me call him Remus most of the time." Annie smiled softly.

Sirius' heart unclenched with relief.
"Right...Did Remus ever explain the wound in your eye?"

Annie breathed in. "He said it was a consequence of magic. He left it at that. I always figured it was a tough subject for him."

"I can tell you. If you'd like."
She nodded her head. Sirius turned his head around, glancing at Harry. With pleading eyes, he made a motion for him to sit with them. Andromeda looked at Sirius with wide eyes. He looked back at her, reassuring her with a pat on the head.

Harry sat down beside Sirius. Andromeda gulped.

"I feel the need to explain, to both of you, how things went down." He turned his head slightly towards Andromeda.
"Annie you were born on the 4th of August 1980. James and I were neighbours, If not practically roomates." He smiled fondly, "The Potters took me in, in my sixth year of Hogwarts. Euphemia and Fleamont were my parents. When they passed, I wanted to remain close to my brother, James. I bought the house next door. I brought you up for a year, before they threatened your parents, Harry." He turned to him.
"James and Lilly wanted me to be your godfather. I accepted immediately of course. I was delighted to have a beloved daughter, and then a godson in my life. It all felt, like a dream." He sighed, looking outwards into the forest.