'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 37: Wolf & Stars

[Cardigan - Taylor Swift]

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Wed. 15th December 1993 - 7:34pm...

The Hallowe'en break arrived and left quicker than expected, now Christmas was just around the corner.

I received a letter from Professor McGonagall on the headmaster's behalf, informing me the Ministry had taken their search for Pettigrew and Black elsewhere; mostly Pettigrew due to the disturbing thought of him being so close to Harry and Ron growing up.

I was allowed back into my home again, and about time too.

Gossip of the Malfoy Manor's party spreads like wildfire, and Draco broke out into a number of fights. He refused to talk to me, Theodore or Pansy. Isolating himself.

I, too, felt extremely out of place since that night.

Lucius' words haunted me for days. On top of his words, Harry finally found the time to tell me the news of Black.

He's our Godfather.

At first, I didn't know how to react. I sort of felt relieved at the beginning, because he wasn't trying to kill me and my brother, but in fact warn us of Ron's rat this whole time. More specifically, Harry, because Peter knew exactly where he slept.

Black didn't break into the Gryffindor dormitories to murder my brother, he went in there in search for Peter.

A massive misunderstanding, that's all this confusion was over. Pathetic, if you think about it really.

Harry knew how uncertain my feelings were regarding the situation: and it soon became a delicate matter for us.

But, I couldn't ignore it any longer. Not whenever we both walked down the streets, past Muggle houses, to reach the Black's establishment; his hand in mine.

He stopped, and pushed up his glasses. "He feels really bad for the first interaction you two had."

I nod, squeezing his hand.

"He wants us to live with him," He smiled. Lowering his voice he added, "Everyone thinks the Black's family home has been abandoned. He told me it would be the perfect place for him to hide, until we can convince the Ministry he's completely innocent."

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Opening the warn down door, it's creak alerted whoever was inside the house of our presence instantly.

I step inside, admiring the old family photographs covered in dust and cobwebs. Across the floor, black scuff marks trailed up the staircase, occasionally turning into paw prints.

"Sirius?" Harry called, closing the door.

We got no response. The house was completely silent-

"Kreacher has not seen Master Black."

I scream, holding onto my chest as a house elf appears out of the blue.

"I'm sorry... Who are you?" Harry took out his wand.

"Kreacher is but a humble servant of the noble family of Black... Pure-bloods." The elf snarled, dragging a box behind himself.

"Wait." I lift my hand, "What do you mean, you haven't seen him?"

"Master Black has taken a strange likeness to being outside. In the back garden, with another. I have not seen them for hours."

Harry took my hand, grasping at it. "Another?"

"Yes," Kreacher points to the back door. "They must be outside again, together."

"Right, alright..." Harry pulled me towards the back door. "Brillant."

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Turning the door handle, and peering outside - There, in the soft moonlight, Professor Lupin and Sirius Black shared one another's company.

Lupin sat in the shadows, under a large oak tree, and Black directly out in the lights rays of the constellations.

Harry cleared his throat, informing them of our arrival.

Lupin looked back at us, over his shoulder. He lifts himself off the grass, and helped Black up afterwards. "Harry, Jane."

Black made eye contact with me, and I shuffled against the dirt.

Harry released my hand, walking over to give Black a hug. Patting each other's backs in the process.

"Hello," He finally said to me.

I give him a small wave, forcing the politeness smile I could muster up.

Harry broke their hug, and took a seat on the ground where Lupin was previously sitting.

Black closed the distance between us. His appearance freshened up: a casual suit, with a clean cut beard. He looked far different than the first time we met.

"I must apologise to you, Jane. I genuinely didn't know who you were that night. My only intentions were to find Harry and Ron," He grins.

I nod - Unable to find the words for this conversation to continue, if you'd even call it one.

My hands trembled, and I crossed my arms quickly.

"You resemble your mother so much," His tone softened, gesturing to my hair. "Your hair, nearly as bright as hers."

I glanced down to the ground for a split second, finding my words that were no longer caught in my throat. "Did you know of my parents?"

"Know of them? No, I knew your parents. I was always welcome at the Potters. Your father, he... he was one of my best friends at Hogwarts." He chuckled. He moved his hand, hesitantly fixing my hair.

I let him. The anxiety within my body calming, however it turned into something else. An emotion so overwhelming I couldn't deny the effects of it.

"Come now, it's alright to cry." He opened his arms, and I lean forward into him. He wrapped his arms around me, caressing the back of my head.

Closing my eyes, I hug him. My hands holding onto his jacket tightly until my knuckles turned white.

"Remus told me I was your Boggart, and I am truly, deeply sorry I caused you such a fright." He placed a kiss to the crown of my head, "But..." He pulled back, using the pad of his thumb to wipe away my tears. "I hope you can forgive me? And we can become a proper family? If you'll have me?"

I sniffle, taking sharp inhales. "Yes. I just want to get out of the Dursley's."

"Good. You're safe with me, little Snake. Don't worry, I promise to take great care of you and your brother here."

I am finally going to be in a place I can call home, and with someone my parents trusted with all their hearts. I've never felt the happiest in my life, until now.

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