Harry Potter and the Black Secret

Prologue

Harry woke up slowly, not wanting to bring himself into consciousness knowing what it was he would see. He found himself thinking that the fact that he preferred being cataleptic to cognisant really was rather depressing. Gradually he realised that he was not in the same position he had fallen asleep in, chained to the wall and incapable of movement. He was instead slumped on the floor, his head resting on his arm.

The stone ground was so cold it was almost moistened by his body heat. He ached all over. Carefully he shifted his weight so he was lying on his back, but as soon as the move was complete he sat up, not abhorring the touch of the stone on his naked back.

He looked down at himself, his vision blurred, but good enough to see the pair of black-rimmed spectacles sitting beside him on the ground. He picked them up and put them on. The world around him came into focus.

He was still in the dungeon, stripped from the waist up with bare feet. His black trousers were torn and frayed and stained with blood. His blood. He could see dark purple-black bruises on his chest and lacerations on his sides. He knew he had a bruise on his left eye and at least one slash across his face. He could taste the raw wound behind his lower lip.

He drew his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms round his legs, resting his chin on his knees and closing his eyes to the world that surrounded him, he thought of nothing.

Alone.

I'm going to tell you a story, but first you need to know the rest. I need to set the scene.

It was a dark time in the Wizarding world. The evil Lord Voldemort was at the height of his power. Families feared for their safety and the lives of their loved ones, for Lord Voldemort would kill all those who stood in his way. He feared no one, no one except Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dumbledore was and still is described as the greatest wizard who ever lived. He is a kind man, and will do everything in his power to protect those who are loyal to him. During this dark time, he headed a group of Aurors; wizards who could counter act the evil Death Eater servants of Lord Voldemort. They were known amongst each other as The Order of the Phoenix. These Aurors worked in secret, concealing their true identities from the world for protection, because, as I said, it was a dark time, and no one knew whom they could trust. Trust is important and will play a major role later, so keep it in mind.

Two of these Aurors were Lily and James Potter, a recently married Gryffindor couple. They were honest and true, and loved by all who knew them as allies and friends. Something that not many people know though is that James Potter was the direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor himself. Something that a lot of people do know is that Lord Voldemort was the direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Gryffindor and Slytherin. Good and Evil.

Lily and James Potter had a son. They christened him Harry James Potter. They loved their one and only one with all their hearts and would do anything to protect him from harm. Harry had the jet-black hair of his Father, and the Emerald Green eyes of his Mother. Harry was surrounded by those who would look out for him: Sirius Black, his godfather and Diana Hail, Sirius's fiancé were two prominent figures in his life before the incident that was soon to occur.

Lord Voldemort found out about Harry, the next heir to Gryffindor. Lord Voldemort wanted to kill Harry.

Now as I said before, trust is very important. Dumbledore had a trusted spy, an ex-Death Eater, named Severus Snape. Snape reported the news of Lord Voldemort's plans, and Dumbledore was quick to suggest a protection spell to keep the Potters hidden. The spell was one that required a secret keeper, a trusted friend to conceal the location of those being hidden. Naturally, James and Lily chose Sirius Black, and as far as Dumbledore knew, this was the final arrangement. At the last minute however, Sirius suggested that they use Peter Pettigrew, and old school friend of James and Sirius instead. No one would suspect Pettigrew.

So, Peer took on the responsibility of hiding Lily, James and young Harry. But, Peter had been deceiving his old friends. Peter Pettigrew, Gryffindor turned evil. He betrayed Lily and James to Lord Voldemort himself, and on that one fateful night, Lord Voldemort attacked.

Lily and James were brave, and sacrificed themselves to save their son. It was this act that led to the miracle. The pure, untapped magic of undying love surrounded young Harry Potter, and protected him from the evil killing curse. The curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort, and the dark lord vanished from the world.

Now, this should be a happy ending of sorts, but life is never so simple. Sirius Black was tried and convicted of conspiring with the dark lord, He Who Must Not Be Named. Sirius Black was sent to Azkaban the wizard prison, leaving behind his new wife (secretly married only a few weeks before), and his young one-year-old daughter.

Diana Black ran, exiled from the country as a traitor. She travelled under her maiden name, and her daughter never knew any other name. So, even though the dark lord was gone, the dark times still continued for some.

My story is her story. The story of Black's daughter, and the miraculous wonder that is true love.

Chapter One

The Beginning of the End

The strong, ice cold wind spun around a middle aged mans feet, his long, billowing black coat flowing out from behind him as the air caught it from underneath. The autumn leaves spiralled across the ground, dancing in the moonlight, but the tall, dark haired man did not move his gaze from the view before him.

Thousands of people going about their daily business, hurrying home to their families after a long day at work. Family. He remembered that, from all those years ago. How he longed to be blissfully unaware of the raging war going on around him, just like all those people below.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even hear the soft footsteps coming up behind him, and it wasn't until a slender hand placed itself on his shoulder, that he turned around. His breath caught in his chest. She was just as, if not more, beautiful than she had been before.

"I always know where to find you Sirius," said the quiet, but familiar voice of the woman now by Sirius Black's side. "You're far too predictable for your own good."

"Only to people who know me," was his reply.

The pair stood in silence for a few minutes, gazing out over the cliff edge on which they were standing. Finally Sirius turned to face the woman whom he had loved for over a decade, and just revelled in her appearance.

Her long, golden hair was tied back loosely at the nape of her neck. He had always loved the touch of her hair, and adored the way colours danced of her thick, styled curls in different lights. She was perfect. He took her hand, and she looked into him, gazing silently into his deep, soulful eyes.

"You haven't changed at all," he told her. His voice was deep, it still strained from its sudden re-use. He had been silent for so long.

"You have," came her reply. Sadness edged her words, matching the grief in her eyes.

"Diana..." he began, but was interrupted before he could get any further.

"I always believed you," Diana rushed. "I knew you'd never betray them, and I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner."

"I knew," he said simply, and an understanding passed between them. "You did the right thing," he continued. "I'd have been angry if you had stayed. Knowing that you both were safe was all that kept me sane."

Diana looked down at the ground, a tear forming in her left eye.

"I can't imagine how it must have been for you in that dreadful place. It should never of happened."

"The past is the past now," Sirius told her, "We're here to arrange the future. How is she?"

Diana looked back up, her focus returned to the present, and what needed to be done.

"Coping. It's been hard for her..." Diana paused. "Sirius, she doesn't know, about you, about any of it. I couldn't bear to cause her pain."

She could see the pain in her husbands face, but also the understanding.

"Its for the best," he said, "but we're going to have to tell her the truth soon. It'll be better coming from us than from him. Where is she, is she safe?"

"At Hogwarts, she arrived this morning. Dumbledore will keep her safe for now."

"Good, the less people who know about her the better. I'd never forgive myself if I became responsible for my own daughters death."

"Our daughter," Diana added, taking Sirius's hand. "She's our daughter."

And with that final sentence, the re-united couple kissed. Together, at last.