Harry Potter and the Forgotten Secrets

Ch. 6 ~ The Child of Black

Hermione's POV

Our Thanksgiving holiday at the Burrow was so wonderful. Seeing everyone again is what made everything seem so much better. Mrs. Weasley made the most perfect meals, as always, and the food seemed to just keep coming…almost like being back at Hogwarts again.

I had to admit, I did miss Hogwarts a little. But Dumbledore’s assignment for us to get muggle schooling kept me fresh and excited instead of bored. Now that we were on strict orders to stay at the Burrow “until further notice,” the four of us had to work on our schooling over the computer. Of course, they appointed me as being the 'middle-man' of emailing our professors. I had emailed to let them all know that we were unable to get plane tickets back and that we weren’t sure when we could. Thankfully they believed us and had made arrangements for us to continue our studies over the computer until we could make it back. “Finished,” I said proudly. “All of our week’s worth of lessons has been sent to our professors.” I made myself comfortable on the couch next to Ron.

“Good,” Ron said, releasing a sigh. “Now maybe we can have a small break.” Ron was reading the newest Daily Prophet to see if there was anything on Voldemort. He finished the last page and threw the paper or the end table. “Nothing today, Harry.”

Harry smirked from his position in front of the fire. “Good, glad to hear it.” I squinted to see what Harry was reading.

“What is that, Harry?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“It’s some records from Durmstrang,” he said, turning the page. “I’m trying to find Lara’s records.”

“Why?” Ron and I asked together. Sometimes it felt as if we were twins. No wait…that would be wrong.

“Because I have to know why my fiancé won’t tell me her last name.” He flipped the page again.

Ron chuckled. “Maybe she’s Riddle’s or Malfoy’s heir,” he teased. I punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Ow!”

“Be nice.”

Harry flipped the page again. “Here it is!” he said, suddenly sitting upright. “Lara Mary Black…” His voice trailed off, and I was shocked.

“Black?” I asked, wondering if he and Ron were thinking the same thing I was. Harry nodded. “Are you sure?” He nodded again.

“The year fits. And the first name index says she’s the only Lara,” he said, skipping to the back of the book.

“I didn’t know there was such a thing,” Ron said.

“Neither did I,” Harry said. He was starting to get quiet and his face was getting whiter by the second. I knew his heart was aching. I knew that he was hurt by finding out who Lara was. I know that if Ron had ever done that I would be hurt too. Harry closed the book and set it on the fire ledge. “How….why….how could she….” He stopped as the door opened. Lara and Mrs. Weasley had come back from the store.

“What a mad house. Muggles everywhere.” Ron and I stood up to go and help. We both took bags from her and followed them into the kitchen. “Oh, thank you dears. How was your day?”

I set my bag on the counter. “Good. I got our homework sent to the school.”

“Oh, good,” Lara said, dropping the armful of bags she had. “I’ve been so worried about our biology homework.” I smiled weakly at her. “What’s the matter?”

Ron started to say something, but I grabbed his arm. “Lara…can I talk to you in private?” Ron nodded, kissing me on the cheek and walked back to the couch where Harry still sat, staring into the fire. Lara looked at me, confusion displaying all over her face. “Excuse us, Mrs. Weasley.” I took Lara’s arm and we went to the front porch.

“’Mione, what’s the matter? Is something wrong with Harry?” I just stared at her for a minute. What was I going to say? How was I going to say it?

I sat on the rail of the porch and stared at my shoes. “Lara…Harry found your school records today.” Lara dropped her cloak that she had been trying to keep on her shoulders. I looked up to a stunned face.

“He what?”

“Is Sirius your dad?” It was the first thing that came to my mind.

Lara nodded, tears starting to fill her remarkably green eyes. She ran a finger through her curly red hair. “I wasn’t allowed to tell you. I wanted to so much…” She was sobbing now, and I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I guess I was a little hurt too. “You have to believe me that I wanted to tell you.”

“Then why didn’t you?” Harry had just come outside, Ron behind him. Ron shrugged his shoulders and gave me an apologetic look before coming towards me. I gave him a small smile, wiping my cheeks as dry as I could.

Lara turned and took Harry’s hand. “Oh, Harry…I wanted to. Mum made me promise that I wouldn’t…as well as Dumbledore.”

Harry looked stunned and hurt. “Lara, I don’t even know who you really are. How did you expect me to know who I was marrying if you didn’t tell me who you were?” He paused, and Lara stood silent. “So, you’re really Sirius’s daughter?” Lara nodded.

“I didn’t know him. Mum told me of him of course, but he was in Azkaban all my life…and then…” she trailed off, finding it hard to finish. I looked at Ron. He was staring at his shoes. Harry swallowed hard. “What was my father like, Harry?” I watched Harry’s face as a light seemed to go off in his head. He knew Sirius…and his only daughter didn’t. Harry wrapped his arms around her and she began to cry.

“Lara…” Harry couldn’t seem to find the right words. I looked at Ron and we smiled at each other. It was time for us to leave. Ron took my hand and I followed him into the house.

“Everything okay, dears?” Mrs. Weasley asked when she spotted us standing by the kitchen door.

“Did you know she was Sirius’s daughter?” I couldn’t believe Ron had just blurted it out like that.

“Oh, dear.” Mrs. Weasley seemed frightened by this question. “Oh my.” She turned to look at the clock that would tell her where the rest of the family was. Mr. Weasley was en route home. “Oh dear.” She turned and walked up to her room.

“Well, of all the bloody messes, this has to be the worse,” Ron mused. He was right. Obviously we had found out something that they didn’t want us to know of. What kind of trouble had they gotten us into now? I raised an eyebrow at Ron, who only smiled at me innocently. It was times like these I wished I was a muggle again.