Daughter of Black

3.11

The twins and I sat in the common room, laughing at something that Fred had done or said a couple minutes ago. I was brewing some tea over the fire, since my hands were so cold. I rubbed them together, still smiling, despite being so damn cold. I had changed into leggings and the Weasley sweater, with a pair of fuzzy socks. I was finally getting comfortable on the couch, my legs stretched over Fred's lap and my head resting on the arm rest, when the common room door was thrown open. I frowned, looking over the couch, seeing a fuming Harry. "Why didn't you tell me?" Harry yells as he storms into the common room. I stood up, looking back at Harry. I stopped sipping the tea I had just finished brewing.

"Tell you what Harry?" I ask, confused as he continues pacing the room in front of me. Hermione and Ron had directed Fred and George out of the room. They probably realised this was a private conversation, which meant they knew exactly what was going on.

"Sirius Black, your father, is my godfather!" I dropped my cup, hearing it shatter on the floor around me.

"He's... He's what?" I ask, staring back at Harry watching as his eyes soften.

"You didn't know...?" I shook my head and bit my lip. I closed my eyes for a second, and then more memories came flooding back. I remembered moments where all of us were at the Potters. I remember pictures my mum showed me of baby Harry. I sort of remembered bits and pieces from when Harry was born. I don't remember anything about my father being named godfather, but we were over at their house so much, that of course he would've been. But most importantly, I remembered the day my mum died in the same room, just moments before Lily Potter sacrificed herself for Harry. I looked back at Harry, a small smile resting on my lips as I pulled him in for a tight hug.

"I have a brother..." I squeezed him tight and I think I felt him hug back.

"Well, godbrother." I laughed, shaking my head as I moved away from Harry. "How could all this good in you have come from him?" I sighed, moving away from Harry and sitting on the couch.

"I don't think there is anything I could say to make you change your mind about him. Probably because I don't even know him all that well. I love my father. I know he left me on that doorstep because he wanted to protect me. That and it was better than going to the Malfoys." I saw Harry laugh a little from the corner of my eyes and I smiled. "But I understand why you're so scared. I have faith in him, but whatever happens, I won't let anything bad happen to you." I smiled down at Harry. Even though we weren't biologically related, I still felt like he was a part of my family. He felt like a brother to me. Especially after all we had been through.

🗲☽

Harry, Lupin and I stood in the astronomy tower. Ancient charts drape the walls while gleaming spheres of spun glass orbit one another silently. Lupin paces before a large trunk, looking back at us every couple of seconds. "Are you two sure about this? You know this is very advanced magic. Well beyond the Ordinary Wizarding Level." Harry and I look at each other, making sure that the other is still wanting to do this.

"We're sure." I tell Lupin.

"Well everything is prepared. Now, the spell I'm going to teach you is called the Patronus Charm. Ever hear of it?" Both of us shook our heads. "A Patronus is a kind of positive force. For the wizard who can conjure one, the Patronus works something like a shield. The Dementor feeds on it instead of him." The trunk rattled violently, both of our eyes moving to stare at it. Lupin snapped his fingers and our attention was brought back to him. "But in order for it to work, you must think of a memory. And not just any. This memory needs to be a very happy one. And powerful." I bit my lip, trying to think of a memory. I had a lot of happy memories. But one just might do the trick. Harry and I both nod. "Got something? Good. Let it fill you up. Lose yourself in it. Then speak the incantation: Expecto Patronum. Without your wand..." Harry and I repeated the phrase over and over.

"Expecto Patronum."

"Right then. Shall we?" Both of us nod, our wands raised. He watches us carefully, as he grins the lid of the trunk. "Concentrate, you two. Concentrate..." He flung the trunk open and as I saw the boggart in the shape of dementors, I thought of the happy memory I chose. It was me and the twins playing quidditch in the backyard. It was one of the best moments of that summer.

"Expecto Patronum!" I shouted, feeling confident, but the dementor remained. My eyes went wide as I backed up. The torches on the wall flickered as a cold breeze filled the chamber. I look over at Harry, but he has failed as well, both of us backing up. As both dementors neared, my breathing quickened as I tried to think of another memory. This time I thought of the first thing that came to my head. It was George. Not necessarily a specific memory of him, rather the feeling he made me feel when I was around him. "Expecto Patronum!" I shouted even louder than the last time, stepping forward. A huge silver shadow bursts from the end of my wand, hovering between me and the dementor. The Dementor falters and my legs feel like jelly. Lupin flicks his wand and sends the boggart back into the trunk. I sat down on the ground, sighing as Lupin gave us both some chocolate.

"Good job Bella." I took a bite of the chocolate, letting it sit in my mouth for a second as it melts in my mouth. "Just out of interest, what were you two thinking of? What memory did you choose?" I gulped as I looked back at Harry, letting him speak first.

"The first time I rode a broom." Harry told him, standing up. He lent me a hand, helping me up as well. I smiled at him as we both turned back to Lupin.

"That's not good enough, Harry." Lupin shakes his head. "Not nearly." Lupin turned to me, and I blushed.

"Well... um, at first I was thinking of a memory from summer with the twins. We were playing Quidditch in the yard." Lupin gave me a look and I nodded. "I know. It wasn't strong enough. I figured. So then I thought of someone else." I bit my lip as I ran a hand through my hair. "It wasn't really a memory though. It was more of a feeling. A feeling someone gives me." I looked back at Lupin and he had his eyebrows raised, like he didn't understand. "I was thinking of George." Both Harry and Lupin's eyes went wide as they looked at each other and then me. I blushed and looked away.

"There's another. It's not exactly happy. I mean, it is. It's the happiest I've ever felt. But it's... complicated." Harry said after a moment. I scratched my head, looking back at Harry.

"Is it strong?" Lupin asks him, looking away from me. Harry looks up into Lupin's eyes, nodding. "Then let's try it." Harry takes a breath and tosses me the rest of the chocolate as he readies himself. Lupin looked back at Harry, and sighed, before opening the trunk. Instantly, the Dementor appears again. A chill fills the air as I stand next to Lupin.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouts as his hand trembles. His whole body trembles as he keeps his composure. And just like it did for me, a huge silver shadow bursts from the end of his wand, hovering between him and the Dementor. The Dementor falters as Lupin steps in front of it.

"Riddikulus!" The Dementor vanishes and Harry's arm drops. I rush over to Harry as Lupin smiles down at him. "Well done."

"I think I've had enough. For today." Lupin looks back at me and I nod, agreeing with Harry.

"So you know, Harry: You'd have given your father a run for his money. And, believe me, that's saying something." Harry thinks about this and smiles a little.

"I was thinking of him. And Mum. Seeing their faces. They're just talking to me. Just... talking. That was the memory I chose. I don't even know if it's real..." Harry looks towards me as we start to leave. "But it's the best I have." Harry looks back at Lupin and smiles before we leave.