Stranger From the Past

Knots To Be Untied

Sirius was awakened by loud continuous knocks on his front door. Grunting in annoyance, he crawled out of his warm bed, pulled on a shirt and padded into the hall.

The front door swung open even before he reached it, and Remus Lupin appeared at the doorway.

"I can charge you for trespassing," Sirius said calmly before turning in the direction of his bedroom.

"Where do you think you're going, Padfoot?"

"Back to sleep."

"Why can't you just put up some wards on your front door?" Remus asked as he followed behind his friend.

"You're the only one who dares to barge into my house uninvited. Sirius Black is a dangerous murderer, you know."

"You've been cleared of the charges a month ago," Remus reminded. "And what's wrong with you this morning?"

Sirius forced a chuckle. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"You're exceptionally edgy."

"You've finally mastered Legilimency?" Sirius countered as he falls into his bed.

"Padfoot -"

"Stop it."

"What?"

"Stop asking."

"You're really going back to sleep? Then what should I do?"

"Simple. You have two options." Sirius flipped onto his front. "Either leave or entertain yourself in my hall."

Remus threw his hands up in the air. "I'll take a walk and be back in an hour." Just as he turned to leave, he heard Sirius mumble something. "What did you just say?"

"You may bump into her," Sirius repeated. His eyes were wide-open now, and there was a faraway look in them.

"Bump into her? Who?"

"Becky. Rebecca Pettigrew."

"Becky?"

"Damn it, Moony! Must you keep repeating after me like a parrot?"

"You saw Becky? She's coming here later?" Remus asked incredulously.

Sirius shifted onto his back. There was no way he could go back to sleep now. "She's my new neighbour at Number 9."

"What?"

Sirius had to smile despite his frustration. It was a rare sight to see his friend stunned and at a loss for words.

"She didn't know I live here. Not until we met yesterday."

"And?" Remus cocked a brow.

"And?" Sirius grunted again as he sat up in his bed. "What do you expect? That we'd kiss and make up? Forget everything that had happened?"

"Padfoot," Remus went over and placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder. "You're not blaming her for what happened, are you?"

"She has nothing to do with what Wormtail did."

"Then what's the problem? You're here, and she's here too. You two can talk it out and carry on as before."

Sirius shook his head slowly. "Pick up the pieces and continue? It's a stupid cliché. Things don't work that way in real life."

"She's married?" Remus ventured a guess.

"I don't know."

"Kids?"

"Moony!" Sirius growled. "I said I don't know!"

"Then ask her."

"It's not that simple. Don't you see?" Sirius got out of bed and started pacing about his bedroom. "She thought I killed her brother. I was framed then. But now, it has become a fact. Wormtail will lose his soul to the dementors any minute now." He paused for breath before continuing his rant. "What can I expect from her? Rush into my arms and pledge undying love? Pretend the past twelve years never took place?"

Remus frowned thoughtfully. "I think you're worrying too much, Padfoot. Becky has always been closer to you than to Wormtail. In fact, I don't think she has ever been truly fond of him."

Sirius stopped pacing and whirled around to face his friend. "You really think so? You're not making this up to make me feel better?"

"Of course I'm sure," Remus replied with more confidence than he felt.

"Then I should go see her?"

Remus nodded in the affirmative.

Sirius stared at his long-time friend for several moments. "Maybe I should," he agreed finally.

*

Four doors away, Becky was curled up in her couch, flipping through a huge aged photo album. The young Marauders were grinning and waving at her from every picture. It was an album that belonged to Peter. She had found it when clearing out his room more than a decade ago.

Becky found her favourite picture of Sirius, and sadly traced a finger over his face. Still in his Quidditch robes, he was really happy when the picture was taken. The Gryffindors had won another match and clinched the Quidditch Cup. Becky herself had been the photographer.

=============== FLASHBACK ================

Becky's first day at Hogwarts was an eventful one. The deputy headmistress McGonagall had stuffed an old and shabby hat onto Becky's head and the girl almost jumped when it declared "Gryffindor". Professor McGonagall had been pleased and congratulated her, adding that she was placed in the same house as Peter.

Becky had nodded politely and pretended to be glad, though she did not really care if she never saw her pathetic-looking half-brother again. They had lived their lives apart till very recently and they were almost strangers anyway.

She was determined to get around on her own, without help from Peter. But on her very first day at Hogwarts, she soon found herself lost in one of the many school corridors. And she was very late for Charms.

"Flitwick is supposed to be nice. Surely he'll not be angry if a lost transfer student skips one lesson?" she wondered aloud as she slowed her steps and decided to explore the castle instead.

She stepped onto a moving staircase that brought her to the third floor. Forgetting McGonagall's warning not to venture there, she got off the staircase and took a walk. There were several closed forbidding-looking doors. She tried to open them one by one but they were all locked.

"What are you trying to do?" A harsh voice rang out.

She turned around sharply, her hand still on a doorknob. It was Filch, the school caretaker.

"Nothing. I - I'm just - looking around," she stammered.

"This place is out of bounds!" Filch bellowed.

Becky clapped a hand over her mouth. "Sorry - I forgot -"

"Forgot? I must have heard this stale excuse at least a thousand times." He smiled menacingly at her.

CRASH!

"What's that noise?" Filch looked around sharply.

CRASH!!!

It was louder this time.

Filch growled and took off in the direction of the noise, leaving Becky standing there open-mouthed. As she was deciding what to do, something bumped into her and she could feel fingers curling around her left arm. Her scream was muffled by an unseen hand that closed over her mouth.

"Keep quiet!" a low voice urged. "Follow me! Hurry!"

She was practically dragged away, feet barely touching the ground. Her mind did not register the route she was taking. She soon found herself shoved into an empty classroom, staring at the young man who appeared under the invisibility cloak. She could not tear her eyes away from him - standing before her was the most good-looking guy she had every seen.

He looked at her with amusement. Something in his manner told her that he was used to such attention from the fairer sex.

"So you're the little sister," he said casually, leaning some of his weight against the wall.

She opened her mouth but could not find her voice. Her throat felt completely dry.

"You'd better not wander about by yourself. Not till you're more familiar with the castle," he told her with a wink. "If you have to break the rules, it always pays to have one of these handy," he added, referring to the silver cloak he was folding.

Becky's mind only cleared long after the mysterious boy had left. The first word that came to her was "Wow!"

*

Becky promised herself that she would search the Great Hall for the boy at lunchtime. But she soon found out that it was unnecessary. As soon as she approached the long Gryffindor table, she heard his voice and felt a thrilling shiver down her spine.

"Hey, little sis! Over here!"

It was him. Sitting right there with...her half-brother!

From that moment, Becky found herself being immeasurably warmer towards Peter. She followed Peter whenever and wherever she could. She had the motivation to get close to her half-brother now, for he was never far from the good-looking guy. And she would do anything to get close to the boy who sent her heart racing.

On her first day at Hogwarts, Becky knew that she had fallen helplessly and hopelessly in love with Sirius Black.

============ END OF FLASHBACK =============

Becky shut the photo album gently. She had made up her mind. The Pettigrews owed Sirius an apology. And being the last surviving member of her family, she would have to take on this responsibility.

She had to pay Sirius a visit.

***