entranced/ f.w.

innocence

davina

by the time i reach the defense against the dark arts classroom my hands are shaking and my mind is scattered. as i get ready to knock on the classroom door, it opens and i'm faced with professor lupin.

"oh hello ms.marshall, how can i help you this afternoon?" he smiles, slightly startled by my presence.

"i'm sure you've heard the rumors by now professor," i sigh, "i just need to know if there is any truth to them."

"i'm sorry, i have no clue as to what you're referring to."

i walk into his classroom, running my fingers through my hair, pacing in front of his desk. i pause for a few moments before finally uttering the question i came to ask him.

"were you and sirius black friends when you were at hogwarts?" 

he raises his eyebrows, "i'm not sure where you've gathered this information, but yes, i was friends with sirius."

"okay, i have a follow up question," i mumble, "is sirius black my father?"

professor lupin mumbles something under his breath before turning to me, and gesturing for me to sit down.

"i was hoping you would find out this information once everything was sorted out," he sighs, "but considering that hope has diminished, i presume i should discuss the backstory of who you were born to." 

"that doesn't sound like a no."

"that is because, davina, it is not. in your mother's final year at hogwarts, she found herself quite ill, or so she thought. i was very close with your mother, as were the rest of my friends. myself, james potter, lily evans, peter pettigrew, sirius black, and your mother were the best of friends during our time at hogwarts."

i nod, the look of curiosity in my eyes practically begging him to continue.

"i met your mother on the train during my first year. once i became friends with sirius, james, and peter, i introduced her to them. sirius took a liking to her from the beginning. although, sirius enjoyed playing the field, so it did take quite some time for the two of them to connect with one another. but once they did, in our fifth year, they were inseperable. they began dating, and it honestly drove the rest of us mad. we would always catch them snogging in the common room or sneaking around after curfew." 

"my mother, sneaking around? you must be joking," i laugh.

"oh on the contrary," he laughs, "your mother might have been prefect material at the start, but being with sirius changed that quickly. anyways, onto our final year. they had been together for a fairly long time at that point. when your mother started feeling ill, we all became concerned. she was extremely tired all the time, and would often get sick. she missed so many classes we eventually had to take her to madame pomfrey."

"and that," he smiles, "is when we learned of your existence. your mother was shocked, but suprisingly, sirius was thrilled. yes, they were young, but he didn't care. they both knew you would be brilliant, and they loved knowing that you would be. by the time we graduated, your mother had one month left before giving birth to you. and when you came into the world, you had the biggest welcoming committee. i was named your godfather, which was sirius' choice, and lily was named your godmother, courtesy of your mother."

"why didn't my mother tell me after all these years?" i say, shock evident in my voice.

"i assume she didn't want you to think your father was a bad person. after you turned two, he was taken to azkaban. he's been there ever since."

"until now," i say, "of course i would think he's a bad person! my father led you-know-who straight to his best friends, killed one of them, and more innocent people. he's a murderer and a traitor."

"and this is why i wanted to wait for you to discover this," he states, "because your father didn't do any of these things."

"but there was proof professor! how could he be innocent if all signs point to him?"

"he was framed, davina!" he shouts, "peter pettigrew was an anamagi, a rat. when he sent voldemort after lily and james, sirius went after him to confront him. peter froze, not wanting to be turned in. so he sent a spell and tranformed into his anamagi form, so it would look like sirius committed the crime."

"how it that possible?"

"believe me, i thought sirius was to blame. for the last 12 years i thought he committed these crimes. but then harry showed me the marauder's map and told me he saw pettigrew, and i knew sirius was innocent. i knew what peter had done," he shakes his head. 

"so my father," i stutter, "is an innocent fugitive, who is on the run from dementors and the ministry?"

"yes davina, but you have to understand, your father is a good man. i just wanted to withhold this information until i could prove his innocence tonight."

"tonight?" i question, "how will you do that? do you know where he is?"

"yes," he nods, "but you are not to meddle and you are not to intervene. as your godfather, now that you are aware, i must look after you while your parents are not able to."

"but it is important for me to intervene," i scoff, "i have to."

i stand up, walking toward the door. remus puts his hand on my shoulder.

"it's too dangerous davina," he frowns, "you could get hurt."

"i don't care," i exclaim, "what if you can't prove his innocence? what if he gets sentenced to the dementor's kiss? then what? i go through the rest of my life never remembering or meeting my father?"

he remains silent, pondering the information i've just given him.

"i have to meet him, professor," i beg, "i've spent my entire life wondering who my father was, and if i would ever get the chance to meet him. i need to know he exists, i need to help get him freedom."

"i suppose you are right," the professor nods, "but you must do as i say, every step of the way, do you understand."

"yes sir," i nod, smiling, "now where are we off to?"

"the shrieking shack."