HEATHENS - Harry Potter ✔

CHAPTER SIX

It seemed that everyone had forgotten about her presence by the time they arrived. Kiera didn't mind, it gave her time to figure out exactly how she would explain why she was there – not that she herself really knew either.

She had no idea where she was, but she figured that the kitchen must have been in a basement (or else a bomb shelter) because there were no windows. Derivatively, it was too dark for her to get a proper look at her surroundings because the only sources of light were the fire and the dying flame on a solitary candle. The man who had been waiting for them (who Kiera presumed owned the house they were currently in) look familiar. She felt that she knew him from somewhere but had no idea where that somewhere was, and the dim lighting in the room didn't help her figure it out.

The others seemed to have known him well, however, because it didn't take more than five minutes after their arrival for the Weasley children to start a quarrel. Harry Potter had explained to them what he had seen, and Kiera's hypothesis was proven true – it was the same as her nightmare. Then Ginny had insisted that they go to St Mungo's immediately and when the man had said it wasn't a good idea, a rather heated protests ensued.

"We don't care about the dumb Order!" shouted one of the twins (Kiera could not recognise which). She didn't have the slightest clue what order they were discussing but from the bickering that it was some sort of collective and Arthur Weasley had been attacked by the snake while 'on duty' (whatever that meant).

"It's our dad dying we're talking about!"

They went back and forth a few more times (though Kiera noticed that like her, Harry had remained quiet since he had first described the vision to everyone) until the man finally managed to calm them down, promising that they would only wait for news from Mrs Weasley. Ginny was the first to sit, followed by Ron and Harry, and finally (though not without another glare) the twins.

"That's right. Come on, lets all ... let's all have a drink while were waiting. Accio Butterbeer."

It wasn't until they all realised that it was seven and not six bottles of butterbeer that had flown from the pantry and skidded along the table that everyone seemed to remember Keira, who had until that point, awkwardly stood by the fireplace and said nothing.

"Who are you?" His tone wasn't rude, more like surprised and maybe slightly confused.

"Er – Kiera Walker ... Sir," she added for good measure.

He continued staring at her, lines of puzzlement etched into his forehead like he was trying to figure out if he was supposed to know her. Then, he seemed to decide that he didn't, and introduced himself. "Sirius Black."

Kiera's eyes widened in alarm. It was the wanted posters that she recognised him from. She felt stupid for not having made the connection earlier – the posters had dominated every copy of the prophet and multiple windows in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley back in her third year, after all. But, to be fair, he did look quite different now than he did in the posters: his face wasn't as hollow the madness in his eyes was gone. In fact, he looked kind, not at all like a madman.

But he was a madman, a Death Eater – a serial killer. Kiera's eyes darted around the room, the Weasleys and Harry. Why were they all just sitting around, drinking butterbeer, when they were currently in the company of a mass murderer?

"Oh right – sorry," said Sirius Black, evidently recognising the shock and fear in her demeanour. "I didn't kill anyone; I was framed ... It's a long story."

She didn't feel reassured until Harry finally looked up from his drink (not looking directly at her but more the empty space slightly right of her face) and said: "He's okay."