Hello Father

The students from Hogwarts have been nicely shown to the Great Hall were they were going to spend the night. Remus wasn't to be found while it seemed like Snape was everywhere. It was annoying how the students weren't allowed to go anywhere without Percy Weasley approving (not even when one needed the bathroom).


Eliza rolled on the other side and glanced outside, ignoring Seamus's soft snoring. The room was filled with sleeping bags that were enlightened only by the moon. She was curious what was Remus doing and if Snape's oh so kind gift was working or not.


The green eyed witch couldn't do anything until after midnight, when Percy went to speak with professor Flitwick about Black. She tiptoed out of there, opening and closing the door in utter silence before she headed to the Common Room. She was in need of shoes and wand so she could go look for Remus; or at least werewolf Remus. It was a full moon and she had to be careful not to get caught.


"Hey! Who's there?" Filtch's voice echoed in the corridor, making Eliza freeze.


Her green eyes moved from side to side, searching for a place to hide. In the end, she ran outside, down the hill where she stopped in front of the willow.


It took Eliza a few more breaths before she finally calmed down, massaging her chest. That was probably the most exercising she has done in the last few years. She could still remember the last time she ran: it was a full moon and she was curious how Remus looked like a werewolf so she innocently opened the basement and took a peek.


Unfortunately, Remus noticed her and her smell got imprinted in his mind which became a big problem afterwards. Ever since, one of them has been forced to leave the house for one night per month.


"Those were good times." She mumbled, rubbing her arm.


It was night and she was standing in front of an old willow. The wind was picking up but everything else seemed suspiciously quiet. Maybe it was the Dementors that made everything seem so gloomy or maybe she was just too paranoid.


The brunette narrowed her eyes at the tree and took one more step before she stopped and stared at it.


"It's so silent......" She trailed, folding her hands in front of her chest to keep herself warm.


At one point, while the moon was hovering over everything and anything below, she heard it- she heard the howl of a wolf. Eliza had heard that sound for most of her life but she still got goose bumps.


One detail that Lupin always avoided was where he was hiding when the transformation begun. He never told her where he was going at night. She sighed and rubbed her forehead, annoyed that she ran out without thinking first.


A growl and a light whirl sound made her rise her head and survey the place once more. There it was, at the base of the willow, a black dog of bigger dimensions than normal ones. She had quite a shocking reaction: none. Eliza was staring at the dog with so much intensity that even the animagus took a few steps towards her, tilting his head to the side in curiosity.


Being a curious person herself (and probably reckless) Eliza got closer to the dog, even when the animal's expression changed into a snarl and growled. With every step towards the subject of interest, she could hear movement yet her eyes were set on the dog.


She only had the chance to watch as the huge branch hit her and threw her aside.


The student groaned and rubbed her side, feeling something itchy surface. Eliza noticed the same branch swirl and go for another hit; she had no power to do anything but close her eyes and hope it won't throw her far. She was waiting for the hit but instead of something rough touching her, Eliza felt something wet and sticky.


Her eyes opened wide when the same black dog grabbed her by the ankle and snatched her down the hollow in the trunk.


Inside the hollow, Eliza noticed just how much it looked like a passageway. It was mysterious and truthfully, she was getting a weird thrill out of it.


Once the dog reached deeper into the corridor, he let her go. She didn't move an inch and continued staring at him. Under her curious gaze, the dog morphed back into a human with messy black hair and lonely eyes. He looked like he had been through enough terror for a lifetime.


Her eyes widened while he scratched his back, feeling an itch down his spine that was probably a flea; he had been too reckless when going out in the forest.


"You are Sirius Black," The witch stated the obvious. "You are Sirius Black." She repeated, sounding like she was trying to get that name and face stuck in her mind.


"And you are very reckless," He started, leaning against the wall still scratching his back. "I can only guess you like playing with fire."


Sirius had no idea who was standing before him but those green eyes were the only reason he saved her.


"I'm E.B." Her words didn't seem to ring any bell in his memory, "Eliza Black, your daughter." She continued.


Saying that Sirius was surprised was a lie not an underestimation because Sirius knew Ophelia was pregnant when he got caught. But he never got the chance to see the baby or know if it was a girl or a boy. They didn't get the chance to marry officially with the war and all the other stuff and he couldn't have regretted it more than now, when he was looking into the eyes of his daughter.


Taking a closer look in a quite creepy and spontaneous way, he grabbed Eliza's shoulders and leaned in. She looked like a younger version of Ophelia but with tints of his own features like the hair or the chin.


She was his daughter. Realization hit him hard and he felt his eyes tear up as he wrapped his hands around her tightly.


"My daughter," He repeated out loud, caressing her hair. "Who would have known we would meet like this." He continued murmuring in her soft black hair.


Eliza couldn't hear anything but her heart beating loudly with emotions she couldn't explain. Her father was right in front of her, hugging her tightly with kindness and love and he just morphed from a dog.


"You're an animagus!" She exclaimed after he backed off a little, his hands still on her face and eyes still wide and teary.


Sirius chuckled, still scanning her, imprinting her image in his mind for later.


"Where are you living now? I only heard Ophelia was murdered in a mission and never got the chance to find out why or by who and-" He stopped, breathing and rubbing his eyes. Everything was moving too fast and he needed a moment to recollect himself.


"Mom was murdered by Voldemort. I was four years old when it happened and have been living with my godfather ever since." She informed her father, who suddenly turned grim.


"By Voldemort." He repeated the most important part.


Sirius knew something she didn't. It was the way he frowned or the way happiness vanished from his eyes but it was obvious something else was going on in his head.


Is there something wrong?"


He turned away, rubbing his forehead whispering something to himself before turning to her.


"Do you know why?" Sirius snapped but calmed down when Eliza shook her head, "Good, good." He mumbled before grabbing a hand through his messy hair.


After another glance at her, he wrapped his arms around her again, smiling with joy in what felt like an eternity in darkness.


"You know why, don't you?" She asked, her voice muffled by his clothes.


His grip tightened around her, his eyes widening a bit.


"It's alright. You have me now. I'm sorry I haven't been there to see you growing up." Sirius whispered, making her freeze in shock.


Eliza has been waiting for that moment for her whole life- meeting her father and having him wrap his arms around her, telling her that they could live together and have a normal life. She wished for that every single night and now, here he was in all his glory, apologizing and hugging and overwhelming her with affection that seemed a bit frantic.


It took another few minutes for Sirius until he backed off and asked Eliza something he postponed. "Have you met Harry?"


Eliza nodded and chuckled, sounding much like him which only widened his smile.


"Yes. We're both Gryffindors so it's a bit hard not to meet each other every day,"


Sirius beamed with amusement.


"You're a Gryffindor! Blimey, I don't know why I was worried before," He mumbled, "Of course you would be a Gryffindor, as your parents. I have to say, I was quite the charmer when I was your age." Suddenly, his eyes seemed to search in the distance, longing for those fun times with his friends "Hogwarts is a great place, you know. You can meet people who can change your life and turn you towards a better path, make you a better person....." He trailed, remembering his pranks and all the things he did as a student.


"I know. Remus told me about your so called adventures with Potter and Pettigrew."


She could still hear Remus' voice telling her stories that would make her laugh and cry at the same time.


"The Marauders, yes," Sirius chuckled. "How do you know Mooney?" He asked when he realized he never said anything about him. His eyes widened when he figured it by himself. "Godfather! Ophelia named him your godfather?!"


Eliza nodded, suddenly remembering what she was there for. "Remus! Where is he?!"


Sirius grabbed her by her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "Calm down. He's not here, I haven't seen him in a very long time."


She tilted her head to the side before she responded, "Why are you here? You know what they're saying? They're saying you want to kill Harry," she whispered narrowing her eyes at her father.


Sirius laughed which completely confused her.


"You sounded just like your mother," He barely got out through loud laughter. "A Slytherin at the core." He mumbled completely missing the fact that she was right there, with no idea what her parents' heritage was.


Eliza's eyes widened but she didn't get the chance to ask anything because he changed quickly into his animal form and nudged her towards the exit. She sighed and watched him bark happily before running deeper into the passageway, leaving her there with more questions than before.

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