you should see me in a crown

Snakes and Subjects

Harry wrote a response to Severus quickly and sent it off with the owl, who had followed him up the stairs. Two days would be enough time for Sirius to settle in and for them to work out whatever it was they were discovering. By the time Harry returned to the sitting room, Sirius was once again sitting by Remus and he looked slightly calmer.

"What was that about?" Sirius asked as Harry returned to his seat.

"Severus," Harry said.

"What?" Sirius blinked at Harry.

"I told you he was helping me with the Dark circle stuff?" Harry cocked his head.

"Well... yeah, but I didn't think he was writing to you," Sirius shrugged.

"He isn't," Harry shrugged right back. "This is the first time but he said he has something important to tell me." There was silence as Sirius seemed to be deciding what to say, but Harry didn't give him the chance. "There are more important things to talk about anyway."

"Right," Remus nodded, leaning forward in his seat. "If Dumbledore knew that Sirius was innocent, and as Chief Warlock did nothing to get him a trial, there must be a reason."

"He wanted me at my aunts, you said that before," Harry pointed out.

"Yes, but why?" Remus asked. "Why was that important?"

"He never really trusted me," Sirius said after a moment of silence. "He never gave me a special mission or anything like everyone else. I think it's because I never did what he wanted without question." He narrowed his eyes. "Growing up with my parents I learnt to always question everything and Albus didn't like that. It didn't help that I'm a dark wizard."

"He trusted me enough to send me to negotiate with the wolves, even though I'm a dark creature," Remus said. Though Harry noticed he gave no rebuttal to Sirius' first point, which told him that was probably true.

"You were the only werewolf he had," Sirius said. Remus gave a hum of agreement.

"But why my aunt?" Harry said, slamming his hand onto the couch. "She can't have been the only other person left?"

"No... Lily would never put her sister on the list for custody," Sirius said. "They didn't exactly get along." Harry had guessed that from the way Petunia spoke about his mother.

"But if she is my closest relative... I though-"

"-No..." Remus shook his head. "When a parent thinks they may be in danger they make sure to include a custody list in their wills. I know for a fact James and Lily did."

"Hmm," Sirius agreed, his eyes grew distant with thought. "I was first of course... then Alice, as your godmother. Then it would have been Remus but the Ministry would have thrown a fit so they put Peter-" he sighed- "then Marlene, Dorcas, Mary and I think Emmeline was last on the list."

"I don't know those names," Harry let out a short, uncomfortable laugh.

"You wouldn't..." Remus grimaced. "Alice, Neville's mother-"

"-The one I should ask him about," Harry nodded. Both his godfathers winced before nodding in affirmation.

"Marlene and Dorcas both died a few months before your parents," Sirius explained. "They were Lily's friends... she never got the chance to change her will." Harry felt a shiver run down his spine. He had always known that his parents must have lost friends in the war, everyone did, but to know their names now felt strange.

"Mary moved to America," Remus continued when Sirius didn't. "She cut off contact after your parents' deaths. and Emmeline, she never really wanted children... I don't even know if she knew she was on the custody list."