Hole Behind the Picture

Persephone huddled in her cloak, very cold, very tired, and very much anxious. This was not where she had expected to end up, but whatever, if this was the place, this was the place, no use complaining over how it looked. She heard the dull creak of a lock twisting, and immediately stood up straighter, pulling back her shoulders, drawing up to her full height of 5'11. She watched the door handle turn, and drew in a breath.

"Breath, Perse, breath," she muttered. The door opened with some resistance, but it did open. Persephone looked at the man in the doorway. He wasn't too tall, however, not short, he was probably an inch or two taller than she. He had brown hair, which had the traces of grey at his temples, and dull eyes. On the whole, this man did not look healthy, but oh well.

"Can I help you?" he asked, his face remaining emotionless. Persephone looked at the man.

"Yes, I hope you can, sir. I'm looking for Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, and if I'm not mistaken, this is Grimmauld Place," she said, leaving it as more of a statement than question. The man nodded.

"Yes, it is. Are you looking for someone?" he asked, brushing a stray hair out from his eyes. Persephone nodded.

"I'm looking for Regulus Black and Narcissa Malfoy, are they here?" she asked. The man raised an eyebrow. His mouth changed into a half grin.

"I don't know who put you up to this young lady, but I hope you got your money's worth," he said, closing the door. Persephone put her hand on the door.

"No, wait! What do you mean, put me up to this? Do they not leave here anymore?" she asked. This was not going good...

The man brushed back his hair.

"Regulus Black has not lived here for at least twenty years, and Narcissa Malfoy has never graced this doorway. Now, go on home," he said, closing the door. Persephone put her hand on it again, more forcefully this time. The man sighed.

"Look," he began. Persephone interrupted him.

"I am really sorry to be bothering you, sir, but the thing is, I've been looking for this place for a long time, I've spent over three thousand dollars, I am about a thousand miles from home, and I don't know where else to look," she said. The man sighed.

"Come in," he said, opening the door wide. Persephone nodded.

"Thank you, sir," she said, stepping inside. She took off her shoes, which were sopping wet. She stripped off her socks as well, no need to dirty up a stranger's home.

"I'll take your jacket," he said, holding out a hand. Persephone took off her raincoat and handed it to the man.

"Thank you," she said, rubbing her arms. It felt nice to be inside a home, even despite the state of this one. It was an old home, falling apart at the edges, not exactly clean, either. It didn't matter, it was a warm place, even if only for a few minutes. Persephone kept her backpack on, not wanting to be far away from the gun it carried. Her friend Marty had given it to her, a 'present' before she went into the world. Persephone extended a hand to the man.

"Persephone Carless," she said, using her adopted name. It hurt her to use that name, made her remember; she planned to change it soon. The man took her hand, smiling slightly.

"Remus Lupin. Persephone, that's an interesting name," he said. Persephone smiled. "So is Remus." The man chuckled slightly.

"Fair enough. Would you like some tea?" he asked. Persephone nodded, following Remus to the kitchen. He pulled out a kettle and began brewing.

"So, not to be rude, but why are you here?" he asked, pulling out two teacups. Persephone gulped.

"Well, to tell you the truth, it's a long story. You said that Regulus and Narcissa haven't been here for at least fifteen years, correct?" she said. Remus nodded, bringing the tea to the table.

"Yes, Regulus died a long time ago, but even before then, he was in Azkaban for some time," he said. Persephone gulped down a choke. So, her father was dead. Well, that was to be expected, she supposed.

"What is Azkaban?" she asked, frowning. Remus grinned, drinking some tea.

"Azkaban, the prison for the wizarding world? That rain must've affected you a bit," he said. Persephone frowned.

"Wizarding world? Are you trying to put on over on me?" she asked, grinning back. Remus stopped. He looked at her.

"You can't be serious," he said. Persephone stood up, and backed away a bit.

"You're talking about wizards, I don't understand, you're not making sense," she said, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

"You've never heard of wizards or witches or anything before?" he asked, standing up and walking towards Persephone. Persephone began to back up, breathing harder. Remus was starting to seem very large, in a room that was already too small.

"Stay back, just stay back!" she exclaimed, back against the wall. Remus did not comply with her request. Persephone whipped open her backpack and pulled out her gun, pointing it at him.

"I mean it, don't touch me!" she yelled. Remus stepped back, hands in the air.

"I'm not going to hurt you," he said.

"That's crock and bullocks, you're rambling on about some wizards and magic and some other bullshit, you're one of those sick old bastards who get randy about little girls, aren't you, stay back or I swear I'll change your bloody religion!" Persephone yelled, pointing the gun at his forehead. Remus back up a step further, hands still in the air.

"Persephone, let me explain," he said, bringing his hands down. Persephone cocked the gun.

"Keep your bloody hands up, sir!" she shouted, hand shaking with fear and terror. Remus put his hands back up, nodding.

"Alright, alright," he conceded, keeping them up and standing still. Persephone stood there, the two of them in a Mexican standoff, no one in any better a position than the other. Remus was the first to talk.

"Are we going to stand here all night, or are you going to shoot me?" he asked. Persephone shook her head, snapping out of a daze.

"Shut up! Shut up! I'm the one in control here!" she shouted, remembering what Marty said to do if she was ever in a desperate position. Remus sighed.

"You're a child, and you are most definitely not in a position of control," he said, his hands falling down. Persephone took a step closer, pointing the gun menacingly.

"Don't you dare tell me that I'm a child, I know how to handle myself, and you'd be surprised how easy it is to pull the trigger. Now," she said, trying not to speed up, "what were you talking about?"

Remus shrugged. "What do you mean?" he asked. Persephone frowned.

"Don't give me that bullshit, man, you know exactly what I'm talking about, the wizards and witches, goddamnit!" she spat out. Remus flinched as the gun came closer and closer.

"I can't explain it to you, you wouldn't understand," he tried. Persephone's face grew darker. "You had better start explaining, friend, because I'm not going to give you another chance," she said. The tough, dark side that Marty had told her about was coming out. It actually made Persephone feel good about herself, a feeling that had not graced her presence for a very long time. Remus sighed.

"We wizards have coexisted with Muggle's, er, that's non-magical folk, like yourself, for centuries. I have no clue how you stumbled into our world, which is where you are right now, but somehow you did. We try hard to keep ourselves hidden, we even have a department at the Ministry of Magic, er, that's our government, for covering up little magical traces that get out of our world. Regulus and Narcissa Black were a part of this world, both of them. Actually, that part is a bit, um, complicated. Is it alright if we head upstairs? There's a tapestry that would probably help to explain things quite a bit, not to mention someone else who could help," he asked. Persephone stared at Remus, then nodded.

"But if you try any funny shit, I'll blow your fuckin' brains out," she said. Remus nodded, and walked to the stairs. Persephone followed right behind him. The came to a hallway, where a grand tapestry hung. It hand names written all over it, and on some spots, there were burn marks, and holes.

"What is this?" she asked, trying to look Remus in the eye and stare at the tapestry simultaneously.

"It's the family tree of the Blacks. All those of the Black bloodline show up on this hanging. See, right there, is Regulus," he said, pointing.

"Put that back up," she said, glancing at the portrait. Remus complied.

"And, just to the left of his name, is Narcissa Black."

Persephone nearly dropped the gun upon hearing the last part of the name.

"Black? What is this? Her last fucking name is Malfoy!" she exclaimed. Remus nodded.

"Yes, but her maiden name is Black," he began.

"That's fucking impossible, if they were related they couldn't possibly have," Persephone ranted. Remus shook his head.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. Persephone stared at him for a moment, then answered.

"How can they be my fucking parents if they were fucking cousins?" she exclaimed. Remus looked as if he had been hit by a train.

"What are you saying?" he asked. Persephone pulled the paper out of her pocket, and shoved it in his face.

"This fucking birth certificate says that Regulus Black and Narcissa Malfoy are my fucking parents! My adoptive parents died a year and a half ago, and my aunt gave me this, and let me try to find my real fucking parents!" she said, breathing heavy, mind spinning. Remus stared at the paper for only a few moments, then looked back at Persephone.

"That can't be right, they would never," he began.

"It's fucking true, I'll tell you that much, and I know it is fucking true, because this is my birth certificate! Now, what the fuck is going on?"