Black and White

7

"Harry!" Hermione yells.

We all turn to see the full moon coming out from behind the clouds. I look to Professor Lupin, who looks both afraid and pained.

"Remus, my old friend," Sirius says, rushing up to Lupin. "Have you taken your potion tonight? You know who you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! This heart, here! This, is only the flesh!"

Pettigrew turns back into a rat and scampers off as Hermione and I help Ron to his feet. Harry goes to chase after Pettigrew, but I pull him back.

"Run!" Sirius shouts to us as Professor Lupin transforms. "Run!"

Sirius is thrown aside.

"Professor," Hermione says to the now fully transformed werewolf. "Professor Lupin."

The werewolf howls, and Hermione comes back to us. Snape comes out and grabs Harry, ready to threaten him, but when he sees the werewolf, he pushes the four of us behind him. Werewolf Lupin claws at Snape, knocking him to the ground. Suddenly, Sirius Black is in front of us, in dog form, protecting us. He leads the werewolf away.

"Sirius," Harry calls.

"Dad," I call at the same time.

Together, Harry and I rush off towards Lupin and Sirius. The werewolf has just thrown my dad aside. Harry and I pick up sticks and rocks and begin hurling them at the werewolf.

Lupin comes to attack us, and manages to throw me against a boulder. Pain rips through my abdomen as a sharp point on the rock tears at my skin through my shirt. Lupin runs towards me again, but a howl is heard, making him stop in his tracks. He runs towards the new howl, leaving us alone. I hold a hand to my bleeding stomach as I force myself to my feet. My dad turns back into a human, and Harry and I follow him to the edge of the lake, where he's collapsed in exhaustion.

"Dad!" I yell, going over to him. He's bleeding, too, and unconcious. "No, Dad!"

Harry kneels beside me on the rocks, before looking across the lake. I notice I can see my breath. Dementors. My dad opens his eyes and gasps in fright at the sight of the dementors gliding across the lake. I grab his hand as the dark creatures attack.

My mind and body fills with sorrow and pain. Harry says a spell that I don't quite hear through the haze, but whatever it is, it isn't enough. I throw myself over my dad, clinging to him. The only family who has shown me love and kindness. Slowly, my eyes close, and I submit to the grimness surrounding me.

When I open my eyes, I'm in the hospital wing of Hogwarts. I can feel the bandages over my abdomen. I try to sit up, but at the pain I change my mind.

"Zuben, are you alright?" Hermione asks, coming to sit on the side of my bed.

"I'll be fine," I answer. "And... call me Lucida, or Lucy. Please. I don't want to have to go by the name Bellatrix gave me." Then I gasp and sit up quickly, ignoring the pain. "My dad! They're going to-"

"Calm down," Hermione interrupts me as Harry sits on my other side. "That's what I wanted to tell you. He's escaped. Or, we kind of went back in time and saved him. Harry and I. He and Buckbeak, they flew away together."

"You saved him?" I ask. "A-and Buckbeak?"

Harry and Hermione nod, and I pull them into a hug, crying.

"Thank you," I whisper. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

"Sirius wanted me to pass on a message," Harry tells me. "We can't go to live with him right now, because he's still believed to be guilty. He'll be on the run for awhile. But he told me that the ones we love never really leave us. We can always find them. In our hearts."

I smile a bit, then realize something. "Harry, if my dad is your godfather, then we're practically brother and sister."

Harry grins. "I used to always want a brother or sister," he tells me. "I guess now I have one."

Fred and George plop down on the end of the bed, both giving me reassuring smiles.

"This will help you feel better," Fred says, handing me a piece of chocolate.

"We had a bigger piece, but we had to give some to Harry," George tells me. "I guess he thought he needed it."

"Some 'boy who lived'," Fred taunts.

Once I'm released from the hospital wing, I make a beeline for Dumbledore's office.

"Professor Dumbledore," I call, knocking on his door. "Professor, I would like to speak with you. Please!"

"What is it, dear," he asks, allowing me into his office. "You shouldn't be running, just out of the hospital wing."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir," I rush. "It's just... Sirius Black, he's my father! And... he's innocent, sir!"

"Yes, child, I am quite aware," he states in a soothing tone. "I did not want the matter to trouble you. And, I'm sorry, but the Wizengamot will hardly be convinced by the words of a werewolf, three thirteen-year-olds, and an eleven-year-old."

"With all due respect, I'm almost twelve, sir," I insist. "Just a couple more months and-"

"I'm sorry, dear," Dumbledore interrupts, giving a sad smile. "All that can be done at the moment has been done. But I sense there is another reason you've come."

I look down at my feet and sigh. "Yes, sir, there is," I admit. "I would like to start going by my birth name. I don't want to be Zubeneschamali anymore. I want to be Lucida. Lucida Vega Black."

"I can change your name on the school's roster," Dumbledore tells me, "but to revert to your birth name will require Mrs. Lestrange's permission."

I nod. "Thank you, sir," I say.

I take my leave. Mother- I mean Bellatrix- will never let me change my name. She will be so angry, too, when she finds out I know the truth.

The next thing I do is tell Draco about everything. He doesn't say much, and I can tell he would rather not know. He doesn't appear to be angry with me, though.

Finally, the last day of school arrives. Harry and I both receive packages from the same owl. Ron opens Harry's before he even arrives. It's a Firebolt, to replace his broom that had been destroyed.

I look at my package. Slowly, I open it to reveal a small box, a note, and a grey hippogriff feather. I smile and look at the script on the parchment. The handwriting resembles my own.

Dearest Lucida,

I am sorry I did not get to say goodbye, though I am sure we will meet again soon. If anything interesting happens in our time apart, particularly at home, feel free to write to me. Remember, I will always be to the North. I love you.

"Snuffles"

I laugh at the signature at the bottom. I'm supposed to call my dad "Snuffles" now? Merlin's beard!

I turn to the box. So small, I can only imagine what it holds. I carefully open it, to see a silver locket with a compass design on the front, and a bird in flight on the chain. I lay the locket flat and watch as the compass turns, until the N is facing what I know to be east. That's when it clicks. The N points towards my dad, so I can always find him if I need to.

I smile, then decide to open the locket. Tears come to my eyes at the sight. Inside is a black and white picture of a young man and woman, holding an infant. My parents, and me. They must be. I close the locket and fasten it around my neck, making sure the chain and everything is hidden beneath my shirt.